Rock legend David Bowie has premiered his latest single ‘Blackstar’, the title track from his upcoming 25th studio album. The song begins as an odd mix of electronica and jazz, before gradually becoming more pop orientated. The equally surreal video features astronauts, solar eclipses, devil worship and gyrating scarecrows. At ten minutes in length it certainly goes against the norm for singles. Bowie has demanded that there are no shortened radio edits however a snippet of the song is used in the credits of the new Sky crime series The Last Panthers. If the track is anything to go by then Bowie’s new album is going to be pretty out there.
news
Terrorist attack at concert in Paris
Photo credit: Ian Langsdon
An Eagles of Death Metal concert at the Bataclan Concert Hall was one of the targets of a number of simultaneous attacks across Paris. Reports state that 8 gunmen took members of the crowd hostage and killed without hesitation. Explosions and mass shootings have thought to have occurred with the death toll currently at least 100 people. The band themselves have apparently escaped the carnage. Though the concert seems to be at the epicentre, there have been reports of similar attacks at restaurants, bars and the Stade de France football stadium. The nation has declared a state of emergency and has closed it’s borders.
Our thoughts go out to the people of Paris and updates on the situation will be posted as it develops
Edit: The death toll has risen to 120. 200 people are injured, 80 of them seriously. Eight attackers have died, seven of which by explosive suicide belts.
The Stone Roses announce 2016 live dates
Indie legends The Stone Roses, whose seminal debut album is considered one of the best in British music and kickstarted the Britpop movement, have announced their first tour dates in 3 years. Following an ad campaign featuring their iconic lemon logo, the band announced two shows at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and at T in the Park festival next summer. Following the announcement rumours are flying that the band will be headlining Glastonbury and that they will be releasing a new album, which would be their first in 21 years.
Phil Collins returns from retirement
Rock legend Phil Collins has announced that he is “no longer officially retired” and is planning a comeback album and tour. Collins has been retired since 2011 and the new album will be the first new music from him since 2002. He will play piano and sing on the upcoming tour but due to nerve damage in his hands he is no longer able to play drums. This does put the future of a possible Genesis reunion into question, but he has stated that he is open to the possibility.
40th anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” Queen’s magnum opus this year celebrates it’s 40th anniversary. At the time it was released ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was the most expensive single ever made, and at nearly six minutes long it still holds the record for longest song ever to make it to number one. It has been Christmas number 1 twice and is the UK’s third best selling single of all time. Although at the time of the release it was considered too long and too bizarre for radio airplay, today it is considered one of the finest songs ever written.
David Bowie announces new album
Rock legend David Bowie has revealed details about his upcoming 25th studio album ‘Blackstar’. Due to be released on 8th January (his 69th birthday) it contains 7 tracks and is full of jazz influences as well as “Gregorian chants, a soul section, various electronic beats and bleeps, and Bowie’s distinctive vocal”. The ten minute long title track is to be released on 19th November as the lead single. The album is unlikely to be supported by a tour as Bowie has stated that he has retired from touring.
Adele teases new album
The bestselling British songstress has announced details about her highly anticipated third album. A snippet of her latest single ‘Hello’ was broadcast during the ad break of the X Factor. Following this she released a letter to her fans announcing the arrival of her new album ’25’, following the naming trend of her previous releases, and stated “I’m sorry it took so long, but you know, life happened”. This is her first release since her record breaking 2011 album ’21’ and will be released on 20th November.
Mercury Prize nominations announced
The nominations for this year’s Mercury Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in British music, have been announced. A panel of music critics will select their choice of album of the year from the twelve albums in the shortlist, with the winner to be announced on the 20th November. The shortlist is as follows:
- Aphex Twin – Syro
- Benjamin Clementine – At Least For Now
- Gaz Coombes – Matador
- C Duncan – Architect
- Eska – Eska
- Florence + the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
- Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin
- Roisin Murphy – Hairless Toys
- Slaves – Are You Satisfied?
- SOAK – Before We Forgot How To Dream
- Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool
- Jamie XX – In Colour
Sam Smith performs new Bond theme
Rising star Sam Smith has been revealed as the performer of the theme for the latest James Bond instalment Spectre. The track ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ marks the first time in 50 years that a bond theme has been performed by a British male solo artist. The song has not been well received, especially in comparison with Adele’s ‘Skyfall’. Spectre premieres on 26th October and is Daniel Craig’s forth film as agent 007.
NME to become free magazine
Due to dwindling sales NME will drop it’s £2.50 price tag and will instead be reformatted as a free magazine. The publication, first printed in 1952 as the New Musical Express, has been steadily declining in popularity since 2003 and it is hoped that this last ditch effort will help rejuvenate the company. The main issue now is the change in distribution. Rather than being available in every newsagents and supermarket, copies of the new NME will instead be available from certain train stations, universities, music venues and HMV and Topman stores. This has resulted in some sizable gaps in distribution across the country which are in serious need of addressing.
Belwood Music 