The Specials to reform? (or 'stop me if you've heard this one before')

You've probably read the headline and already thought 'yeah right, I've heard this one a million times before - chump'.  However, we can bring you news that The Specials may reform later this year... and this is probably as strong as suggestion as there's ever been.

According to the BBC, singer Terry Hall said the band had been inspired to perform together again by recent reunions of bands such as The Pixies. Hall commented: "Because I saw Patti Smith do Horses, and I saw The Pixies reforming...you do it with dignity or don't do it at all. We need to spend the summer rehearsing, I think it's taken me 30 years to realise we could do it really well."

Ska-punk fans. Start practising your skanking now.

Does it surprise you that Keef still canes it a bit?

Is this cool or desperately sad? I'll let you decide... but Rolling Stones axeman, Keith Richards has admitted that he still smokes weed regularly. Apparently, smack and coke are off the shopping list these days, but Keef still likes a little toot.

Sez Keef: “I smoke my head off. I smoke weed all the damn time. There, you’ve got it. But that’s my benign weed. That’s all I take, that’s all I do. But I do smoke and I’ve got some really good hash.”

Then, turning to the cig' ban in the UK, which saw Richards eating a cigarette onstage in protest, Richards said: “It’s a drag because you’ve got to freeze your balls off to light a cigarette, you’ve got to go outside. It’s draconian – socially, politically-correct bullshit. That’s what it is. They’ll get over it. It’s like prohibition; they tried to stop booze once. Ha, look what happened. It ruined America.”

He then went to a nearby Co-Op and bought 15 packets of Space Raiders...

Tone Loc is a very nice man indeed

Get this. In Detroit, someone called Patty McMillan gave loadsa cash away to someone pretending to be Tone Loc's manager. Of course, the swindler said Tone Loc would play at their bar, but this being a swindler, Tone Loc never appeared. So guess whut?

That's right. McMillan and Judy Johnson of Bumpers contacted Tone Loc's real manager and the rapper offered to play the shows for a nominal fee. Now THAT is keepin' it real. Unless he sends an imposter or something.

There is a law in media that, when writing about a rapper, you must include the birth name. So here it is. Tone Loc is really called Anthony Terrel Smith.

If you wanna see him in action, click over and a video awaits.

New Releases, 31st March, with Jeremy Paxman

Hello. Jeremy Paxman here... debasing myself for some poxy online music rag talking about the latest releases from the putrid hit-parade. I imagine there'll be lots of guffawing and snickering as I take some of them to task... quite sad really.

Of course, you're probably more used to seeing me pulling the backbone out of pathetic members of parliament, leaving them jaundiced and trembling. To be honest, I feel the same way about musicians, although, I'm often willing to cut them a bit more slack as they tend to have better choruses and don't take us to stupid wars.

Whatever. Let's get on with it before my face tumbles off my skull in boredom.

The Rolling Stones to Blackpool rock 'n' roll?

Mick 'n' Keef are gonna be well pleased. They can now re-enter the land of pink headed thugs and undercooked chips now that Blackpool council has lifted a 44 year old ban from playing at the seaside resort.

The last time The Rolling Stones played there, at the town's legendary Empress Ballroom in July 1964, they caused a riot. 50 fans had to be treated for injuries and it all went off when someone tried to spit at Brian Jones and in stepped Keith who booted someone in the face.

Chandeliers, seating and the Steinway piano were all damaged, resulting in the town's decision to ban the band from ever returning to play. They're welcome to return... but, I can't see it can you?

Essential Rock 'n' Roll Fashion #811 : The headless bass

Okay. So you're a maligned bass player in a band. No-one ever notices you. Man, you're only one rung up from the drummer... and he's not even a real musician! So how do you get yourself noticed? How do you let the world know that you're sophisticated and, hell, it's not all Louie Louie! I've been learning Level 42 basslines! I'M A VIRTUOSO DAMMIT!

Enter the headless bass.

Sleek, lightweight and stylish, the headless bass guitar lets everybody know that you mean business. Carrying one of these bad boys says "Yeah, I can rock out... but jus' gimme a minute and I'll get some slap thumbing on the go. Ever heard a bass player nail Flight of the Bumblebee?" Once you're comfortable with the new and exciting design, you can start thinking about getting a fifth string... hell... four jus' ain't enough izzit? Man, you can lose the frets while you're at it! People always make jokes about bass players... but buying one of these rascals will ensure that all eyes will be on you.

(note. Best worn with protective head gear and a full suit of armour)

Here we go again... Led Zep might play live again...

I'm getting a bit sick of all this coy cryptic nonsense that we're drip-fed from Led Zeppelin. What's the deal now? Well, Robert Plant has said that there is a chance of more one-off live perfomances from the band, if the reasoning was right.

Speaking in the new UNCUT mag', Plant, commenting on the huge success of their O2 Arena show, said: "Hopefully, one day, we could do it again. Our profit is - it's metaphysical."

The group's bassist John Paul Jones added: "We spoke afterwards, and we both thought the same - it felt like the first night of a tour. You think, 'Oh, I could do that a bit better, or change something in that song.' And we didn't get a chance to do any more." I'm not bothered what you do as long as you make yer friggin' minds up.

Not one, not two, not three but FOUR LPs by Thee Headcoatees!

Hard-to-get Japan only releases and general record shop awkwardness has seen Thee Headcoatees become a little collectable over the(e) years. Now, Holly Golightly, Ludella Black, Kyra Rubella and Bongo Debbie are back in a spate of re-issues from Damaged Goods on lovely vinyl and nice digipack CDs. So what can you get your hands on and what the frig do the LPs sound like?

Available for all is Have Love Will Travel, Ballad of the Insolent Pup, Here Comes Cessation and Bozstik Haze. So whut they like? Worth spending a tenner or so on?

Pete Molinari - New 45 out on Monday - buy it or die

Best thing since sliced bread, Pete Molinari, has a single out on Monday and if you own a functioning heart and at least one working ear, you should buy it.

It's a three track 45, or if you're all modern and made o chrome, you can download it. The tracks are the gorgeous 'Sweet Louise' (off the new LP 'A Virtual Landslide' - review here) 'Indescribably Blue' (off debut 'Walking Off The Map' - review here) and a exclusive acoustic version of 'One Stolen Moment'.

'A Virtual Landslide' is out on the 14th April and also, look out for Pete in session on two Radio 2 shows, Mark Radcliffe & Mark Lamarr... and Pete will be doing a free instore at Rough Trade Records in Talbot Road (That's the Portobello Road one), he'll be on at 6pm. Catch him while you can.

New Love documentary due out... and it's called 'Love Story'

A new documentary, Love Story will  tell the tale of Arthur Lee and his band Love. The film will feature extensive interviews with Lee, band members Johnny Echols, Michael Stuart, Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer, Bryan Maclean, Elektra Records boss Jac Holzman, The Doors' John Densmore, producer Bruce Botnick, as well as testimonials from Bobby Gillespie, Mani, Shack's John Head and... Ken Livingstone. You read right.

Click here for more info on the film and a whole heap of videos from the doc'.

#666 Electric Roulette Diary

As well you know, the team behind Electric Roulette like to go over the top of the frontline, screaming with bayonets, in an attempt to bring you the juice. We've been here, there and somewhere else to give you the lowdown... and now, we're going straight to the source - The Music Industry.

Not many people know this... because the meeja wanna keep it under wraps... but The Music Industry is an actual place. Yup. It's a big ol' unit based in Hemel Hempstead. After the death of Tin Pan Alley and the like, the music bizz bods decided they needed a base... and what better place than a town so dull, people fall asleep whilst uttering where they live. This has led many Australian backpackers to believe that it's actually called Hemel Hemzzzz.

Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs - Oh That's Good, No That's Bad (funniest record ever?)

Humour and rock 'n' roll don't work well together because... well, if I knew, I'd make the best funny rock 'n' roll record ever. Anyway, if you want some mirth and wit in your New Orleans styled groover, check out Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs' 'Oh That's Good, No That's Bad' (yep, them who did 'Wooly Bully') because it's ace.

Oasis announce that they're playing a gig for the first time in ages

This news couldn't mean less to me... but some of youse like Oasis, so with that, I'll quit parpin' on and just give you some facts straight-up (no chaser).

Oasis have announced their first gig of 2008.

It will take place at Canada's Virgin Festival Toronto.

The festival is held on September 6 and 7.

Oasis are currently working on their seventh album in Los Angeles.

It will probably sound a lot like their other albums.

Tickets are on sale this Saturday and available by clicking this link.

Everyone is getting a bit giddy for the new Portishead record... so a film should sort you out

Portishead are stupidly active at the moment. They do nothing for years and years and then, BAM, it's leaked tunes, new records, news of gigs... and now... some weird little viral films (don't worry, that doesn't mean they'll knacker your computer up, it's just a media term used by bozos like me).

The first (click here) is a weird cut 'n' paste job whilst the second (click here) is barely worth watching as it's a big animated Portishead 'P' logo.

If you're after something a little more substantial, click here, to see the new video for their track 'Machine Gun'. Interestingly enough, it seems like Geoff Barrow is playing some kind of Kraftwerk drumpad throughout. I want one!

Supremes exhibition at V&A

A display of costumes worn by the most successful Motown group of all time, The Supremes, is coming to London. The display at the Victoria & Albert Museum will show the changing image of The Supremes from their early Primettes days right through to the more glamorous, Hollywood-designed outfits they wore at the height of their fame. The exhibition will include dresses worn by all three members - Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard - from a selection of live performances, television appearances, album covers, and more. As well as the clothes the V&A exhibition will display archive television footage, photographs and magazine articles to help contextualise the impact the band had on America and the world. Also expect to hear news shortly of a special event featuring an appearance by Mary Wilson accompanied by soul scene DJs.

The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection
13 May - 19 October 2008
The Victoria And Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
£5 entrance

For more on the the exhibition see the V&A website here.

[viaModculture]

Roulette Pin-Ups - Grace Slick

Who?

Grace Slick - once first lady of morning mayhem turn stadium rocker. Let's jus' gloss over the latter shall we? 

Where can you find her?

Down the front of the protest stickin' roses in machine guns and flyin' The Jefferson Airplane higher than eight miles high... cuz' eight miles is fuh sissies.

Style

Army jackets, no-bra, acid-folk casualty... definitely no shoes... no shoes man. Shoes are for squares. Unless you mean these big ass boots whicha gonna kick you into next week?

Quote

"Go ask Alice... I think she'll know."

Roulette?

Electric!

Beatles? Pah! They just send you dog hair!

The Beatles, like no other band, featured in other people's records, whether it be The Beatle-ettes doing a reply song or Harry Nilsson cramming as many fab four references into his You Can't Do That... well, now here's a slice of preppy pop that can barely cover it's anger at the imminent invasion of those mop-top scousers. It's a track by the Four Preps and talks of A Letter To The Beatles and sniffs at their cash induced love for their fans in the US.

Did you know that The Ramones manager was murdered recently? (me neither)

A story about a band's old manager getting murdered? Yeah? So what? Well, this is no ordinary band manager. This person was Linda Stein who briefly managed The Ramones. Yeah? That sounds kinda important... well you wouldn't believe. Lemme put it this way: As a manager, Linda Stein did very little and wasn't able to turn The Ramones into stars in the US... however, she made one decision which us limeys should be eternally grateful for. 

She managed The Ramones between '76 and '80 and convinced her co-manager, Danny Fields, that the Ramones should play in England. Their shows at London's Roundhouse and Dingwalls in July '76 pretty much invented punk in this very country. During those shows, members of audience included the Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Damned. So it's with that we should mourn her loss and talk about this murder business.

Smashing Pumpkins sue Virgin and Billy Corgan speaks about it

I don't know if you've caught any of this elsewhere, but The Smashing Pumpkins have got into suing mode and are getting the mop out on Virgin Records.

Speaking to Billboard, the Smashing Pumpkins yelper spoke about the lawsuit the band filed this week against Virgin Records for using the Pumpkins in a promotional campaign with Amazon.com and Pepsi. "I'm sure they indicated to Pepsi that they had a right to do this, full well knowing they do not have the right.

The suit says Virgin breached its contract with the band by using the Pumpkins in a Pepsi promo without their permission. Corgan insists the group has veto power over such deals and has turned them down several times in the past. A Virgin spokesperson said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Official licensed fac 51 Hacienda t-shirts

The Hacienda is long gone (replaced by an ugly block of flats bearing the same name), but nostalgia for the club grows by the year - with these officially licensed fac 51 Hacienda t-shirts likely to find a substantial market.

Not just official licensed either, officially worn too - New Order's Peter Hook had one on his back during the recent Manchester vs Cancer charity gig. Four designs initially available (including the two above), all with familiar Peter Saville artwork, all limited edition (once they're gone, they're gone) and printed onto 100 per cent cotton shirts.

You can pick them up online via the site below, selling for £29.99 each.

Find out more at the Slipstream website

Via Retro To Go

LP Review - Rusty Springfield 'Please Don't Dance Whilst Holding Drinks'

I don't know a damn thing about Rusty Springfield and their new LP, 'Please Don't Dance Whilst Holding Drinks' isn't telling me much more apart from the fact that they've clearly got a sense of humour (I mean, come on, look at that sleeve) and that the band members are called Wolfman, Birdie and The Butcher. So what's in store?

A quick check of the tracklisting before playing reveals things called 'Gorilla', 'Andy Warhol Hair' and 'Werewolf'. We're gonna have some fun here eh?

Well, fun seems to be the name of this band's game... but what kind of fun? The kind of fun that ends in slight injuries, beer, loud rock 'n' roll music and punching the ceiling. That's the kinda fun I like best.

The real fifth Beatle, Neil Aspinall, dies.

Neil Aspinall, who ran the Apple Corps music empire for the Beatles, has died at a hospital in New York, aged 66.

Aspinall was a school buddy of Paul McCartney and George Harrison and was regarded by most as the real "fifth Beatle". In an Apple Corps statement, Sir Paul, Ringo Starr, and the widows of Harrison and John Lennon paid tribute to "Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance".

Aspinall was the fabs road manager from year dot, as well as playing background instruments on tracks including Magical Mystery Tour, Within You Without You and Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite... but it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that he will be best remembered.

Festival Review - Le Beat Bespoke 4, London

If you have read any reviews of Le beat Bespoke 4 before now - IGNORE THEM. Why? It was probably written by a London based sycophant who got his ticket for free or worse still, some mod with an interest in self promotion and regurgitating the myths about the scene in an attempt to keep 'the flame' alive. Everything you have read, or will read - except this review - will be wrong.

As I've said previous, I'm keeping The Sonics separate from this review as, well, some of you just won't care as the importance of The Sonics dwarfs a piddly little weekender. In fact, I wouldn't have gone at all if The Sonics weren't on. But go I did and if you're even this far, you're probably curious enough to wonder how it all went down.

The whole weekend promised a shift away from Le Beat Bespoke's usual Mod-In, with an eye firmly on the Garage. Gone were the blokes with women's haircuts and in with blokes with beer bellies getting their kicks to some snarl and fuzz guitar... right?

The Sonics - Live from London

Okay. I've done a great big long review (click here). If you can't be bothered reading all that, watch this video instead as it serves as a shorter... but just as good... snapshot of The Sonics' first show on European soil. Jeez. It's good.

Live Review - The Sonics, Kentish Town Forum, London, March 21st 2008

If I was a bit smarter, I would have taken a camera to The Sonics' first ever gig on European soil last Friday... but this wasn't ever going to be a night of being clever-clever was it? So I'll just have to give you a picture of The Sonics that you've probably seen a million times.

Another thing I'll say, before I start dissecting the gig is that I've decided to keep this gig as a separate entity
from Le Beat Bespoke 4, of which this was the grand opener of... although I will be mentioning it in passing.

So, for those that don't know (although I'm pretty certain most Electric Roulette readers do), The Sonics were the toughest, weirdest, loudest, screamin'-est band on the planet once. They took icepicks to their amps to make everything louder... and listening to tracks like Psycho and Strychnine, you'd be forgiven if you thought Gerry Roslie, the singer, had taken an icepick to his trachea too. However, that was the 60s and this is some considerable time later... could they match the 40-odd year build up of expectation?

Fuzz Dog Representing In Full Effect

Hey kids! Ever dreamt of being a member of Staten Island's finest rap music band The Wu Tang Clans? Well, dream no more - with this Liquid Swords Instrumentals CD you'll feel like you're really hanging in the "Wu-dio" with Ghost, Dirty, GZA and the whole Tangy gang! Rap along in Real Time to the RZA's hip-hopping lyrics-free beats! How about this 'dope' rhyme from Killah Priest's verse on '4th Chamber' "I'm overwhelmed as my mind roams the realm, my eye's the vision, my memory's the film"? That's some metaphysical 'shit' right there, 'dog'! Or how about 'flipping the script' on those Wu Tang boys and coming up with your own 'fresh' rhymes to 'spit' over RZA's hard hitting beats? Check it out: "Yo! My name's P Fuzzy and it's clear to see, that I am the best so listen to me!" Yeaaah boyyyy! It's all waiting for you on Liquid Sword: Instrumentals, available on CD here, today! (PF)

MRR-ADM feat. Malcolm Catto: "Untitled" 10 inch

I dig on The Nazz as much as the next guy, but the big JC's gonna haveta jus' cut me some slack while I take His name in vain this Easter Monday: Jee-zus Christ this record is good. No title, no liner notes, no song titles - no nuffin', 'cept for 6 tracks of insanely dope psychedelic fuzz-funk featuring The Best Drummer In The World, Heliocentrics / Soul Destroyers etc sticksdude Malcolm Catto. Fully loaded with a ton of bugged-out library record analogue synths, buzzing guitars and massive drums, the last LP that sounded like this was... well...Catto's own Mo'Wax LP, the criminally underrated Popcorn Bubblefish. I know absolutely nuffin' 'bout 'MRR-ADM', apart from the fact that they've got a shit name, come from LA and have produced the best instrumental record of the year so far. It's like listening to the out-takes from Lalo Schifrin's Dirty Harry OST. Limited to a 1000 pressing, if you don't got this already, better make tracks. Hear, and buy, it here. (PF)

Mikey Dread - RIP

Damn.

Mikey Dread, the Jamaican producer/reggae legend who produced the 1980 single 'Bankrobber' by The Clash and contributed to songs on their 'Sandinista!' album, died of a brain tumour on Saturday March 15.

Dread was introduced to Jamaican king of reggae, King Tubby, after studying electrical engineering in Kingston and then, began recording his own material and recorded a series or successful singles, as well as becoming a radio DJ. He also recorded heartbreaking reggae masterpiece, Money in my Pocket.

Dread, born in '54, went on to tour and record with The Clash, gaining wider international acclaim. Dread was diagnosed with a brain tumour last summer and moved to North Carolina for treatment before succumbing to the illness on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Monika and six children.

Click over to see Mikey Dread in action...

Review - The Routes 'Let My Mind'

Hands up if you like your beat to be fueled by very little in the way of chords and loads of skuzz? Kind lady, kind sir, you will be wanting to let the sounds of The Routes kick you 'bout your lugs with their latest snot-propelled creation, 'Left My Mind'.

Now, you might be wonderin' why the hell you should bother with yet another band trying to ape The Sonics are somethin'. Fair enough. There's enough of them out there... but not one of them are a buncha Japanese noiseniks side-stepping The Sonics adn going straight for the high yelp o' The Wailers. Man. After listening to this LP, I would kill to see 'em batter Dirty Robber. But I'm gettin' ahead of myself... you ain't heard this LP and you wanna know what it's like dontcha?

Vans launches Johnny Ramone clothing and footwear range

A good time to cash in on a rock star is when he's not around. And four years after his death, Johnny Ramone is a suitable candidate for a clothing collection, courtesy of Vans.

Due to launch in spring 2008, the collection includes a t-shirt with concert shot on front and Ramones logo on back (£25), Johnny Ramone stone washed grey super skinny jeans (£60) and a slip-on featuring the man and his signature (£38).

Not my cup of tea, but if you're a Ramones obsessive, you might be tempted.

Vans website

Via Retro To Go

#2.0 Electric Roulette Diary

We Rouletters like to go down to the frontline... feel the pulse of the rhythm... get down hard at the shows... we wanna rock as hard as our readers so we don't lose sight of what makes music tick. We don't wanna get lost in a world of cocaine and backslapping... which is why we make sure we try an' leave the house and generally avoid London at all costs.

After trips to Manc, Camden and SXSW, we decided the next thing to cross swords with was the world of Electronica. Surely this is the last remaining genre to be completely all-inclusive. No snobbery here... or so we thought.

The Raconteurs rush new LP out

The Raconteurs are showing the world that you don't have to piddle about doing 6 months of promotional work and leaking to radio stations to get a rekkid out. Nope.

They've only jus' finished record the LP a couple of weeks ago and it's getting released on 25th March. Oh, it's called 'Consolers of the Lonely'.

According to a statement from the band. "The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it's availability, reception or perception." As it's out so speedily, the band say "Some places couldn't move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they can." What next? An LP every year sixties style? A dares ya.

Modhoney do one-off gig and release some new records

If you really really really like Nirvana, then you should make the ghost of Kurt Cobain crack a grin by watching Mudhoney celebrate their 20th anniversary as opposed to sulking around in a Nirvana hooded top and talking about self-harm like 'it's a release'.

The grungeniks will be releasing two LP later this spring, one of which is brand spanking new. Through Sub Pop, the Seattle label who claim to share a birthday with the band, The Lucky Ones was recorded in three and a half days and is the first studio album since Under a Billion Suns was released in March 2006. Superfuzz Bigmuff will also get a reissue (tracklistings can be found overleaf). The band will also play a one-off show at the Forum in London on the 31st of July.

New Releases, 17th March, with He-Man

Hi all. He-Man here (or Adam of Eternia to those that know me from The Palace). Many know me for my heroics against Skeletor and Hordak... what d'ya mean you don't remember Hordak? Heh heh... well... I dispatched him pretty quick so I guess... anyway... what a lot of people don't know about me is that, on Eternia, I run a music magazine, very much like Q, which means I save a lot of money of covers as I keep using the same picture of U2 every month.

The mag is called Masters of the Musicverse, which is a hilarious pun on Masters of the Universe, the name of the TV show which chronicled my adventures, along with my bezzie, Dunc' (Man-At-Arms as you might know 'im). So, I guess you could say I'm pretty handy with a sword AND a vinyl deck! So it's with that, we'll have a look at the new single and album releases for Electric Roulette.

I HAVE THE POWER!

Link Wray, 'Rumble', 1958

You're gonna spend a whole lotta time this year bein' reminded of the fact that 2008 is The 40th Anniversary Of 1968, and how 1968 was the year of Rock 'n' Revolution or whatever and it's some whole big deal for baby-boomer media execs. I'm here to tell ya 1968 sucked. 40th anniversarys suck. 50th anniversarys are where it's at. That's why I'm all about 1958. If they'da jus' sent Link to 'Nam he woulda had the whole sorry mess sorted in the flash-whip of a motorcyle chain. 'Cos who needs revolution...when you can RUMBLE. (PF)

The Tony Williams Lifetime: Turn It Over

Based on the fact that I have just recently read a Lester Bangs article in which he quoted 'Right On!' by The Tony Williams Lifetime as an example of the enduring influence of the sonic template set out by The Velvet Underground's 'Sister Ray', I picked up this album at my local record store (Rebound Records, represent!) on Saturday for £13. Turn It Over, released on Verve in 1970, was the second LP by The Tony Williams Lifetime, a jazz trio comprising of Tony Williams (drums & Vox, ex-Miles Davis), Larry Young (organ, played on Bitches Brew) & John McLaughlin (guitar ex-Miles Davis). This jazz-rock all-star band was joined on Turn It Over by Jack Bruce, ex of Cream, on bass. Impressive stuff. Still, apart from Lester's reference -and the fact that the sleeve looks exactly the same as White Light/White Heat - nothing had prepared me for the furious, fuzzed-out distorto Velvets-go-jazz heavy rock sound presented on this thunderously brilliant LP.

Roni Size re-edits New Forms for new release

You remember Roni Size and Reprazent right? Their New Forms LP came along and smacked everyone across the chops with a blistering mix of jazz, soul, rock and, of course, drum 'n' bass. It was, and is, fuggin' amazing. So with the LP reaching its 10th anniversary, Roni Size is releasing a re-edited version next month.

Roni has reworked the record, re-dubbed ‘New Forms2’, so that it will appeal to those who were too young to discover it first time round. Sez Size; “The generation of those who missed it will be able to appreciate the album with the new coat of armour I have added to the original tracks. I think fans of the original album always appreciate what we did with the technology of the day. This latest version shows what is possible now.”

‘New Forms2’ will be augmented by three bonus tracks and will hit the shelves on April 7.

The Horrors get Aphex Twin man in to record LP

The Horrors (not as bad as you think they might be) have revealed they are gonna record their second LP with video director Chris Cunningham.

You heard.

That's Cunningham who you'll know from making music vids for Bjork, Squarepusher and Aphex Twin. He'll produce a record for the first time in his life. The Horrors say... "He hasn't done music production before but I think it'll be really special. The results so far are really encouraging." On Cunningham's inexperience, they said; "That's what so brilliant about it - he won't approach things in the way that so many people will. He's really into the music we like: y'know – My Bloody Valentine, Dead Can Dance and Squarepusher and I think he's gonna bring something to the new album that no one else will."

The as yet untitled follow up to 2007’s 'Strange House' is due out this autumn.

#870 Electric Roulette Diary Entry

We been to Manchester for the hummous, we been to London for the fashion, but we realised that were it was really at was a place called SXSW. Yup. Jus' about every single hack in the business was at this town called SXSW. The Rouletteers with a trunk fulla [read the first coupla chapters of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas] set off to Austin, Texas to see why every single article and headline in the music press featured SXSW.

Staggering through the crowds, we wanted to get a flavour of Texas. Hell. We were even considerin' droppin' the 'U' from "flavour", but obviously, being British, we couldn't possibly drag our limey asses out of the rut. Man. If the Americans have taught us one thing, it's that there's a shortage of 'U's' and we shouldn't be wastin' 'em in all those words.

Richard Remix-on: Mark Ronson Does Tricky Dick!

  Yes, it's true - Superstar Producer And Actual British Person Mark "Why Don't I Put Some Horns On That' Ronson has been asked to re-mix the presidential candidate acceptance speech given by Richard Nixon at the 1968 National Republican Conference in Florida! As serious Electric Rouletteers will undoubtedly be aware, 2008 marks the 40th Anniversary of the year most 'top' historians agree was the 'best' year, 1968. (Some hardcore 1927 fantatics can still be found on the University circuit jabbering on about the first transatlantic telephone call and the Pittsburgh Gasometer Explosion). As part of the 1968 celebration, Mark Ronson has been approached by the Smithsonian Institute to 'funk up' Tricky Dick's speech. "Yeah, they've given me the recordings to work with. Nixon's shit is pretty hot anyway, but I guess they figured that it still needed that Ronson flava. I'm gonna get the Dap-Kings to play watered down jazz-funk on it," explained Ronners, "and then probably stick on some horns or whatever." Ronno then went on to state that he actually felt much more British than American, even though he's never lived in Britain "or whatever", before sticking some Hootie and the Blowfish on his i-phone and settling down to a 'brunch'  consisting of  3 Hershey bars, a bowl of Capn' Crunch and a pack of Oeros, washed down with two pints of Gator-Aid and a 'Bud Lite'. We'll put up a link to the track when it's released in April. (Paul Fuzz)