Kevin Shields remasters classic My Bloody Valentine LPs

Kevin Shields has personally remastered two of My Bloody Valentine's acclaimed LPs... 'Isn't Anything' and 'Loveless'.

Both albums will be re-released through SonyBMG and enhanced with new mixing by Shields, touc down date, June 16, which just happens to be just before MBV's first live shows in years.

Sleeve notes for the releases have been been written by Shields, explaining what he has done to the seminal albums in the re-mastering process... which could make for thrilling reading for audiophiles or, the dullest thing ever for everyone else.

Both albums will be available as a CD digipack and heavyweight 180gsm vinyl. Read over for tour dates...
 

Suge Knight gets knocked clean out...

Okay, we're gonna get a bit tabloid here. Marion Suge Knight, former daddio at Death Row Records is not a man to be messed around with. For a start, he's fuggin' massive. Add to that, he's a well connected brutha who was involved in all that Crips business which saw Tupac gettin' shot. Well, Suge got himself in a rumble this week at the Shag Club in La-la-land and got himself knocked out cold. All 3000 pounds of the muvva. Now, here's a video of a blood splatted (and reelin') Suge.

Not only that, World Star Hip Hop have tracked down the guy responsible for the mightiest left hook in history... and you can watch an interview with him by gettin' yourself over the jump.

Tim Burgess and Joaquin Phoenix team up for musical project

According to the NME, Tim Burgess has revealed some details of a collab. that The Charlatans frontman has done with Joaquin Phoenix. Joining them is Anthony Langdon of Spacehog... but to be honest, that means fu... all to me.

The trio have laid down tracks in a Los Angeles studio with the help of former Creation Records boss.... and... y'know... like... uuuuhhh... this has gotta be the most pointless news story ever y'know?

There's quotes about Joaquin being a perfectionist and all that... but seriously, it's not worthing beyond what's written in the headline. So, to make up for wastin' mine, and more importantly, your time I'm gonna make a list of musos and thesps that could, and sometimes have, collaborate. Maybe some aren't even actors. Read over schmucksack.

A Beginners Guide To...Jay-Z

Why Bother?

YEAH! Why bother, right? That's what I'd like to ask Micheal Eavis right now! "Jay-Z: Why bother?" Whydya bother desecrating the saced "Glasto" Headline Slot with This Sort Of Thing, huh? I mean, I've no problem with black artists playing Glasto, just as long as they're reassuringly old / reassuringly smiley / reassuringly part of some African dance troupe I read about in the Independent / and most importantly: Real Far Down The Bill, OK? Look at Jay-Zed in this picture: he just looks so angry! I mean, what if he's angry at us? Is Micheal Eavis really gonna take responsibility for inviting an angry black American to come over here, take our headline slots, and potentially BROADEN OUR HORIZONS AND OPEN OUR MINDS with SOME MUSIC I MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD BEFORE? Yeah! Like I really go to "Glasto" to broaden my horizons! The headline slot is for middle of the road white indie bands who happen to be doing well at the time: EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT!

Beck to rush release rushed album (not as bad as it sounds)

Beck will release a new album this summer... which is a bit of surprise seeing as there's been next to zero talk about it. The LP will comprise of material that's only just been written, as opposed to well crafted and pondered over.

The album has been produced by Dangermouse, and features 10 tracks and runs in at under 30 minutes in duration. 'Bout time too. Far too many bands see those 70+ mins and think 'FILL IT'.

This will be Beck's outing since The Information in 2006. He'll release it on his new home XL Recordings. The release is being called a below-the-radar release due to it's quick production time and release schedule. Apparently, Cat Power makes an appearance. A press release sez "Beck has recorded a new album, produced with Dangermouse, to be released this summer. The as-yet-untitled album contains 10 new songs,…a tightly assembled group…that range in lyrical tone from introspection and social commentary to off-the-cuff wordplay and lighthearted humor…Musically, the album’s ten tracks vacillate between economy and experimentation, hybrid and pop classicism." Go figure. Beck tour dates here.

Scare your kids with Katkiller's pop culture dolls

Josmar Madureira (a.k.a Katkiller) is an artist and designer based in Brazil - as well as being the person responsible for these superb Katkiller pop culture dolls.

Take your pick from...well, just about everyone from Amy Winehouse (complete with tattoos), Joey Ramone and David Bowie (Aladdin Sane era) through to the Star Wars characters, Twiggy and Andy Warhol. All are approximately 21 inches tall and weigh around 195 grams. They're made of cloth (raw cotton and polyester), stuffed with synthetic anti-allergic fibre, then painted with silkscreen ink.

Check out the full range via the link below. We don't know the details of price and ordering as yet - currently chasing up the designer and will update as soon as I know more.

Find out more at the Katkiller website

Via Retro To Go

Autechre to release 13 new songs

Autechre can be hard work... but then again, like Beefheart or Zappa, they can be hugely rewarding too. So with that, Autechre are to release 13 new songs digitally over the space of two weeks beginning on May 19.

In total the band will release over 140 minutes of new music. The tracks will be released digitally on bleep.com over a course of a fortnight either as a mini-subscription or individual track downloads as and when they become available. The tunes will then appear as EP Bundles on iTunes a week later. Although most people will probably wait a couple of weeks and pinch the lot from Bit Torrent or something. Anyway, the tracklisting is overleaf.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin to reunite

I've got absolutely no idea what to say about this news story. What I'll do is pad it out with a load of pointless procrastinations, making it look like a thoroughly researched scrawl about an indie band from the early 90s. From a distance at least. Of course, this stalling will only work for so long before you start foaming at the nostril and demanding some news. Well, the news is this: Ned's Atomic Dustbin are set to reform for a Christmas show. That's right, you heard. Ned's Atomic Dustbin have announced that they will reform to play a sole date at the London Astoria on December 6. Now, I can't drag that out any more, so here's a video to bulk up the page with.

Stevie Wonder to tour

Stevie Wonder has announced a short tour of the US and Canada, kicking off June 18 in Wantagh, NY. Wonder, who is backing Barack Obama (and the Choom Gang) in the race for the US President, will play 13 shows which wind up July 12 in Vancouver. Wonder’s most recent album ‘A Time To Love’ was released in 2005 and earned him his 22nd Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. For US tour dates, read over... if you live in the UK and are sick at the thought of not seeing, watch The Best Stevie Wonder Video Ever (TM ElecRoul) instead.

Mira Calix to perform live film soundtrack

Mira Calix, first lady of modern electronics, is to work with Augusto Contento, director of the film Onibus. Their project, also called Onibus, will see Mira Calix performing at Evolution Festival at Leeds Town Hall and the National Centre for Early Music in York.

The live performance will feature a film score performed for a screening of the film, with musicians Peter Sparks, Mark Norman, Oliver Coates and Mira Calix. "This unique performance weaves a hauntingly beautiful score for clarinet, marimba, cello and laptop around a trip into the depths of the Brazilian land and people," reads the Opera North web site, who commissioned the project. Mira Calix has performed with Radiohead, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Aphex Twin, if you need a point of reference. If you need another, there's a video waiting for you over the jump.

'Sonic Youth: Sleeping Nights Awake' documentary to be featured at CineVegas film festival

Man! I need to get me to Vegas. Not only can I watch the lizards in Circus Circus and maybe get someone to drop the melon in the bath with me when White Rabbit peaks, but I can also get over to The CineVegas film festival.

The film festival has announced it's line-up and one of the main films is an intriguing documentary on Sonic Youth, called "Sonic Youth: Sleeping Nights Awake." Produced by non-profit filmmaking patrons Project Moonshine, the twist with this digi-vid doc was that it was shot entirely by seven high school students and featuring interviews, backstage footage, and 10 songs that were filmed live in Reno, Nevada on back in July 2006. The other films stink of rock 'n' roll too...

Stereolab to tour North America in the fall... Europe next?

Stereolab are planning a set of tour dates across the U.S. in support of new long player, Chemical Chords. Interestingly, the support act for these dates is Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadier's other project Monade. Chemical Chords is coming out on August 19th via 4AD. This will be the first Stereolab full length release since 2004's Margerine Eclipse. They'll also play the Synch festival in Athens on June 15th, and the Slottsfjell Festival in Norway this Summer. More dates for Europe are to be announced later. Read over for the dates, or, if you're not interested in American shows, watch this video.

Review - Portishead 'Third'

Like most, Electric Roulette has to wait a bit to get a record. Sometimes, we're a bit lazy and don't get 'round to doing something, buying an LP long after reviews are out... but that shouldn't stop us reviewing an album when we do get out arses in gear. Seeing as we didn't get a review copy of Portishead's 'Third', and I went and bought it yesterday, I thought it was time for a peer into the murky sky flickery.

I've heard a lot of snippets and leaked tracks, but that only served as a taster. I've always felt that Portishead were an album band and that the singles, or at least single-tracks, only told a bit of the story. Go back to 'Dummy' or the eponymous LP and you'll see that, as a whole, they make a lot more sense than grabbing a track on (the horrendous) shuffle function on an MP3 player. So, as a whole, what is 'Third' like?

R. Kelly... finally goes to court over serious allegations

A while ago, we took the piss outta R Kelly with a snap, taken as he left court. Well, after a stupid amount of time, R Kelly now goes to trial, after 5 years waiting. Quite why there's been such a delay is something of a mystery.

The case revolves around R Kelly allegedly having sex with an underage girl. And allegedly filming it. And allegedly pissing on her. Now, right at the last minute, sources say that there have been secret hearings dealing with the potential trial testimony of the Atlanta woman, who allegedly had a threesome with Kelly and the girl who appears in the video for which he faces charges.

The Atlanta woman can identify the girl and testify she was underage at the time, sources say.    The same sources reckon that the Atlanta woman received immunity from state and federal prosecution in exchange for her testimony. Now, for the lengthy, and pretty grisly background on this case, read over. Trial starts today.

Stephen Malkmus readies single and tour

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks will release their first UK single from 'Real Emotional Trash' on June 2 via Domino. The tune they've chosen is 'Gardenia', and they are backing it with a new song called 'Walk Into the Mirror'.

The group will support the single with a load of European dates in June. Support on the UK shows comes from Domino mates Wild Beasts. Read over for dates.

Paul McCartney to give away LP for free... with The Mail On Sunday

Paul McCartney has announced that he is to give away his current studio album Memory Almost Full, with the Mail On Sunday on May 18, putting him in the esteemed company of UB40, Prince, Lenny Crevice Kravitz, Simply Red and Jean Michel Jarre. Enough's enough now, surely?

Macca has sold 100,000 copies of his Memory Almost Full LP, which originally came out last year through Starbucks' music imprint Hear Music. However, via The Daily Heil, he could potentially reach 2million homes. I don't know what's more depressing, the fact that Macca is giving his album away through the Daily Mail, or the fact that 2million people read that shite.

Review: Mother Earth - Stoned Woman (expanded edition)

Back in 1992, I was working in my first job - behind the counter for a chain record store. Highlights of the working week were days off, the doors closing at the end of the day and the new release deliveries on a Monday. One particular Monday, Stoned Woman arrived. It stayed on the deck for weeks.

Back then, I knew nothing of its origins, aside from knowing the name from the Totally Wired compilations. I didn't really care either - the mix of soul, funk and 60s-style grooves was the perfect shop soundtrack, going down well on the home stereo too. And now it's back, reissued by Ace in expanded form to celebrate the Acid Jazz 20th anniversary.

Electric Roulette Top Picks

One of the joys of writing about the best music in the world is that you get to share it. Of course, you could see it as 'jamming our opinions down yer damn throat'... but either way, you get some good tip offs so we all win.

Naturally, this being the brink of summer, Electric Roulette folks have taken on a decidedly cheery frame, so maybe it's reflected in the tunes we're currently hoppin' to. You can be the judge I s'pose.

Anyway, enough jabberin', read over for ten randomly plucked treats from the trove... it's the top picks from May 2008.

First look at Neil Young's 'Archives'

Oh boy! Oh boy! Look at this! This is the first preview of Neil Young's 'Archives' and, as expected, it looks awesome. If you don't know what we're talking about, scroll down for the 'Archives' article, or, if you're in a particularly lazy mood, click here.

Adem does bonkers covers LP (this article includes Aphex cover MP3)

Some time ago, I went to a festival and there, I met Adem, who turns out to be a rather lovely, but intense man. I like people like this. So with that, I watched him play his set and was impressed by his folkie stylings which were, rather lovely and intense.

If you didn't know, Adem Ilhan is Kieran Hebden's Fridge bandmate and releaser of solo albums under his own first name. Domino are set to release his newest LP soon and it's called 'Takes' and will hit shelves on May 12th. 'Takes' is a covers album which sees Adem taking on some of his favorite tunes released between '91 and 2001. This includes tracks by Björk, Aphex Twin, Tortoise, PJ Harvey and the Breeders, to name a few. The tracklisting for 'Takes' (complete with original artists in brackets) can be found on the B-side of this article as well as some live dates. Also, you can hear Adem's take on Aphex Twin's To Cure a Weakling Child over the jump too.
 

Neil Young's 'archives' sounds... well... amazing

There's been loads of fuss for nigh on 10 years about Neil Young's 'Archives'. Was it going to be a boxset? A DVD set? What? People need answers... and now, looks like we've got 'em.

New Oasis songs leaked online

I'm not a fan of Oasis by any stretch of the imagination... however, there's loads of you who are. So instead of being pig headed and ignoring the three new leaked tracks from their forthcoming LP, I thought I'd give 'em to you straight.

Basically, if you click over the jump, you can listen to ' I Wanna Live A Dream (In My Record Machine)', 'Nothin' On Me' and 'Stop the Clocks'. Work is being done to get them removed (presumably by the record company and the band), so if you wanna hear 'em, act swift.

Spiritualized have a new video... Soul on Fire

Okay. I like Spiritualized. I liked Spaceman 3 too. Hell, I even like Spectrum. So when there's a new Spiritualized track knocking about, I like to get a little excited. However, as lovely as this new 'Soul on Fire' track is, for all the strings, slow crackling fuzz and all that... I just can't get over the "fire" and "higher" rhyme in the chorus.

Tom Waits announces new tour in a YouTube 'press conference'

Read over if you've no sound on your computer...

100 Club Picture Show - music images through the ages

For three days, the 100 Club will open its doors through the afternoons to the public, offering you the chance to see the legendary club, as well as an exhibition of photographs featuring acts who have appeared at the club over the last 60 years.

Photographs from the club, spanning the last 60 years will include Jazz and Blues by Walter Hanlon, Terry Cryer and Chas McDevitt, The Punk Festival of 1976 shot by Barry Plummer, Ray Stevenson and Jill Furmanovsky and Rock and Indie acts by Paul Slattery, Dean Chalkley and Ross Halfin. That includes the likes of The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie Sioux, Metallica, Oasis, Humphrey Lyttelton, Gallows, Chuck Berry, The Damned, Primal Scream and The Horrors to name just a few.

An exclusive preview takes place on Wednesday 7th May from 6:30pm - contact the club for details. The main public viewing runs from Friday 9th May – Sunday 11th May, 12pm – 4pm. Entry is free.

100 Club website

Via Retro To Go

The Cure to release a new single every month...

The Cure have announced that they will release a new single each month leading up to the release of their 13th studio album in September. Bob Smith & Co will release the first 45 from the as-yet untitled album on May 13, and intend to release a different a- and b-side single on the thirteenth of each month until the album is released on September 13th. Hands up if you think the LP is going to be called Thirteen or somethin'?

The first single, 'The Only One', includes the b-side 'NY Trip'. The second single, 'Freakshow' (due out June 13th) contains the flipside 'All Kinds Of Stuff'. Both b-sides are exclusive to the singles and will not appear on the full-length album.

They were produced by Smith and Keith Uddin. The July 13th and August 13th singles will be announced shortly. Also, The Cure about to embark on a big ol' tour of the US to support the new album beginning May 9.

Mojo Honours List - Shortlist announced

So, some whittling has been done and the voting for the 2008 Mojo Honours List enters the phase of 'shortlist'. Basically, that means a list which is considerably shorter than the longer list which went before. Sorry. I'm in pedantic mode today.

Big hitters in the list of nominees are Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner who finds himself in four categories, and Welsh singer Duffy and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds both bag a brace of noms.
The two that really prick the ears up is a nomination for the wonderful The Very Best Of Ethiopiques (for best comp) and a nomination for Roulette fave, Pete Molinari. Anyway, if you'd like to vote or merely peruse the shortlist, click over.

Dope line-up for Rock The Bells includes Mos Def, De La Soul and more...

Man. I wouldn't wanna live in the US, but I wouldn't mind some of their gigs y'know? Mainly, I really wanna go to the Rock The Bells festival which, this years, is playing host to A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Mos Def, The Pharcyde, Nas, Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface... and the beat goes on and on!

The series kicks off July 19th in Chicago, IL. In addition to nine North American cities, the tour will this year make four stops in Europe. Tour dates over.

Spiritualized to headline Green Man Festival

In an already busy summer, Spritualized have been added as headliner for the Green Man festival.

"They will be joining the Main Stage on Friday night alongside Drive By Truckers and King Creosote," in an announcement on the Green Man Festival web site.

Some other great news is that you can check out some of the group's new tracks the forthcoming 'Songs In A&E' at the band's MySpace page (click here for a listen). The new long player is 18 tracks long and the first full length Spiritualized release since Amazing Grace in 2003. Got to be honest here, sounds like the band's strongest work since 'Ladies and Gentlemen...'. For a full low down on the tour dates read over...

Beck to play UK shows

Beck will play two English shows at the beginning of July in preparation for his appearance at O2 Wireless Festival. So I guess that's three. Well, he's doing two before the festival. He'll appear at Southampton's Guildhall on July 1 and Manchester Apollo on July 2. Now, check him out doing Debra. It's oddly brilliant.

New album from Bonnie Prince Billy

Check this for facts. No fluff. Just facts. Apart from this bit. This is all fluff. Now. Facts. Bonnie Prince Billy will release a new album, 'Lie Down In The Light', on May 19. Lambchop and Calexico producer Mark Nevers worked on the album. Tracklisting overleaf.

Hip hop exhibition of photos and artwork

To celebrate all things Hip Hop and the 25th anniversary of the release of the definitive Hip Hop film ‘Wild Style’, last year PYMCA created ‘Wildstyles’ an exhibition that featured classic rare photographs hailing back to the old skool days.

Now, the exhibition has moved to Bar Vinyl in Camden Town and this time they're hosting a photography and art competition sponsored by Pentax. The exhibition will run from the 19th May – 16th June 2008. Hip Hop competition showcase will run from the 17th – 22nd June 2008.

Patti Smith and MBV's Kevin Shields collaboration gets release

Patti Smith and Kevin Shields' live collaboration on 'The Coral Sea' will finally get its release this summer, when it comes out as a 2CDer on their own PASK label.

The album, due out on July 11, features two live performances from June 22, 2005 and September 12, 2006, both at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Both feature Smith spoken-word from her 1996 book 'The Coral Sea', a homage to her close friend and legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

Shields provides an instrumental backing to Smith's performance, using guitar and his infamous bank of effects. The two shows are said to have a "different stylistic approach". The album is nearly two hours in length. Heavy.

The Greatest 100 Greatest List Ever

Stumbled across this whilst flagrantly abusing internet privileges at work - The Detroit Metro Time's "100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever", an untouchably hip Top 100 compiled by the Deetroit rag's staff late last year. Convention dictates that Top 100 Records Lists a la Mojo Magazine, Q Magazine, The Guardian Guide et al lists are arbitrary, predictable, dull etc etc - this list, however, is dynamite from top to bottom. Tons of Psyche-Soul (Black Merda, Funkadelic, Dennis Coffey), Motown (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves), garage rock (Stooges, ? & The Mysterians, MC5), plus the occasional groundbreaking techno or hip-hop track...a genuinely fascinating journey through the Motor City's back catalogue, and a forceful reminder of how consistently this city has produced incredible music since the mid 1900s. Go dig! (Also in the Detroit Metro Times this week: "Road Rage - Mayor and council skirmish over Livernois makeover".) PF

Uncut - Midlife crisis

You have to worry about Uncut. They still get all of a quiver when they talk about drugs. In a recent article which interviewed Charlatans' singer Tim Burgess, they giddily reported that "huge amounts of drugs were the reason their albums in the mid-90's took so long to produce." Burgess added: "I'd be running marathons in my spare time. There's nothing quite like running a marathon when you're off your head on E. I look back on those times with great fondness."

I'm not sure this is exactly news worthy. I mean, what next? Menswear all got stoned together once? A lot of us take drugs on the weekend and get up to all kindsa nonsense. Running a marathon is a bit weird I'll grant you... but seriously... c'mon Uncut. Stop acting like Q magazine and remember what it's like to kick out the jams. At the minute, they're sounding a bit like a sad old uncle who gets excited when he hears that his nephews and nieces are doing bongs. Still, I suppose that's what you get for hanging around the NME.

Top 5 Acid House tunes!

It's the 20th anniversary of the second summer of love... Mixmag is 25 years old (really? - Ed)... so it seems apt to have a look at some of the best acid tracks from way back when. Of course, this list isn't all from '88, but rather, tracks from around that time that blew everyone's brains out!

1. A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray

Probably the greatest acid track ever made and has the dubious honour of being the only acid house track to have its lyrics printed in Smash Hits. How? No idea.

My Bloody Valentine curate incredible ATP in New York

On the weekend of September 19-21, My Bloody Valentine will perform in the United States for the first time in 16 years to curate ATP New York, the new American branch of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. The event will take place at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York and looks like a real cracker!

If My Bloody Valentine headlining wasn't enough, ATP New York unveiled just the beginning of its 30-act lineup. For starters, you get MBV, as well as Thurston Moore performing Psychic Hearts, Tortoise performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Shellac, Mogwai and Low. It's an American indie fan's wet-dream!

In keeping with the Brit' ATPs, the New York shindig will be pretty small and revelers will live on the site for three days, staying in motel and hotel rooms. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 25, at the ATP website.

Nas may well begin with 'N', but it's a different 'N' word that he's been causing a stink with

Nas has caused a bit of a row with a new track that uses the N word quite a lot, taken from his new LP, the controversially-titled 'Nigger'.

Nas titled the album under attack from both his label and black community groups campaigning to rid the word ‘nigger’ from hip-hop. The long player is - despite rumours suggesting Def Jam would drop Nas if he didn’t change its title - scheduled for release on July 1st and a couple of days back ‘Be a Nigger Too’ was leaked onto the internet.

"The real niggers are back on the radio", the track begins, with the main refrain of "I'm a nigger, he's a nigger, she's a nigger. we some niggers, wouldn't you like to be a nigger too?" Then, adding fuel to the fire, Nas makes reference to “kike niggers”, “spic niggers”, “guinea niggers” and “chink niggers” before spitting "they like to strangle niggers, blame a nigger, shoot a nigger, hang a nigger. Still, you wanna be a nigger too? True".

Is Nas reclaiming a word from racists or is it keeping it in currency? This is a debate that has rumbled on for years... what do you think? Hear the track over the jump.

Primal Scream added to Wax On Live festival bill in Leeds

People think that