Ana Lola Roman - 27 June 2011

Ana Lola Roman is a true renaissance woman; she is at once a songstress, a video artist and an incredibly charismatic performer, and appears as enigmatic as an early Madonna with her slicked down hair and attention grabbing moves.

The single was recorded and co-produced in NYC with visionary producer and computer game composer Jean Luc Sinclair (Nine Inch Nails, Scissor Sisters). Jigsaw sounds almost tribal as Roman contrasts a hypnotic early nineties riff with a torch song-esque chorus, dissolving into a final emotive cry that prompts reaction or change in the listener. Klutch continues in a similarly intense vein blending Fleetwood Mac-esque guitars with a cinematic piano riff, as her voice churns and chants like a mature Siobhan Fahey.

You can listen to Klutch here- http://soundcloud.com/theopr/analolaroman_klutch_theopr and here is a remix
by Com Truise- http://soundcloud.com/com-truise/klutch-com-truise-remix Ana Lola Roman is a true renaissance woman; she is at once a songstress, a video artist and an incredibly charismatic performer. Her new single Jigsaw is no less eclectic combining a dark meditate soundscape with intelligent social commentary that never veers away from being utterly danceable; she sings ‘Men with guns, storming in.

I never really asked for this’. Jigsaw/ Klutch is set for release on the 27th June 2011.

The single was recorded and co-produced in NYC with visionary producer and computer game composer Jean Luc Sinclair (Nine Inch Nails, Scissor Sisters). Jigsaw sounds almost tribal as Roman contrasts a hypnotic early nineties riff with a torch song-esque chorus, dissolving into a final emotive cry that prompts reaction or change in the listener, ‘They taped my mouth red’, she sings. She borrows from contemporary classical music and New York minimalism combining a fragile, world-weary almost performance poet tone with the howlings of a later day prophet as she asks us to ‘Go ahead and name your price. And think twice’.

Klutch continues in a similarly intense vein blending Fleetwood Mac-esque guitars with a cinematic piano riff, as her voice churns and chants like a mature Siobhan Fahey.

This is innovative, intelligent pop; and Ana Lola Roman appears as enigmatic as an early Madonna with her slicked down hair and attention grabbing moves.

Ana Lola Roman's first full length album is scheduled for release early in 2011. Expect new live performances once Ana's intensive recording sessions give way for touring and public appearances. Jigsaw/ Klutch is set for release on 27th June 2011.

For Music and Live Dates check:

www.analolaroman.com


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Ganglians announce special one off acoustic London show!

Ahead of the release of their new album ‘Still Living’ on August 29th through Souterrain Transmissions, Ganglians have confirmed a low key acoustic show at Sexbeat’s Radfest on June 19th.

For more details about the show, which includes performances from Abe Vigoda, Dam Mantle & Eagulls, check the facebook event here: http://on.fb.me/jtvnN6

Ganglians marked their return to the music scene by recently giving away new track ‘Jungle’ for free, which NME said sounded like “if Archie Bronson Outfit, Band of Horses & Fleet Foxes had some kind of spaced-out love-in, then the resultant children were fed a diet of ‘60s psychadelia & recorded their single in an echo-filled cave”. Job done.

Along with the track comes a suitably trippy and hilarious video recorded in London and featuring members of UK bands such asMale Bonding & Mazes. If you haven’t already, check it out: http://vimeo.com/23789361

Their return after the UK release of ‘Monster Head Room’ last year,'Still Living' rings in at just under an hour, staying true to the psychedelic roots established on their self-titled debut and immediate follow-up Monster Head Room (Woodsist/Souterrain Transmissions). They step it up a notch both stylistically and sonically by enlisting the help of producer Robby Moncrieff (who also played a crucial role in the shaping of The Dirty ProjectorsBitte Orca). The four-piece will be hitting the road non-stop in support of the album beginning late summer and continue well into 2012.

Promotional copies of the album will be in the post shortly. Ganglians will be doing interviews following the show on Monday June 20th so if you’d like to speak to them please get in touch as soon as possible.


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MusicVita Urban Showcase Review - 1/6/2011

On Wednesday, the 1st of June, many people gathered together at Camden Proud to attend the ‘Urban Showcase’ organised by the online music club MusicVita. The concept of the event was to bring together differently influenced hip-hop artists. The line up of the night contained 5 different acts that provided varying and striking performances. Artists like Jade Dragon, A-Mens & The Amazing Graces, Rymza, Poetr8 and LockSmyth were responsible for the entertainment and the atmosphere of the night.

First two acts Poetr8 and LockSmyth opened the night with straight forward hip-hop tunes that varied from grime to garage rap. Even though, the audience were just warming up, they both did their job and they did it good. Mixing different beats and reminding us such artists like Biggy, Lauryn Hill and so on.

Third performers A-Mens & The Amazing Graces definitely is a band that brought in the spirituality and love for the evening. With melodic tunes and many-voiced performance they stood out with their original approach to the hip-hop music. Involving acoustic guitar and even beatbox performance, they provided soulful hip-hop mixed with catchy choruses. The thing to highlight about A-Mens & The Amazing Graces is the female vocalist. There is something so special about her voice and its untraditional sound that reminds of the singing manner of Duffy and Adele, but in more high-pitched way.

Fourth performer Rymza brought in more funky tunes reminding of Wyclef Jean. With dedicated lyrics, flowing melodies and welcoming smile his performance flies by leaving the audience in the right mood for the last performance of the night.

Last one to hit the stage is Jade Dragon. Bringing in a dose of attitude and showing off, he mixes his own lyrics with the beats of famous songs by artists like Nicki Minaj, Duffy and Santigold. His show is energetic and fun. As well as that, Jade Dragon seems to know how to communicate with the audience and involve them in the performance. Inviting different guest artists on the stage to perform alongside with him, the performance seems more alive. And when it comes to the song about his skinny jeans, it is obvious that he is not afraid to seem funny to others, which I definitely a plus.

For everyone who is interested in exploring new hip-hop artists that are up and coming, it is suggested to check out every artist who performed at the Urban Showcase by MusicVita. They are good entertainers, bright personalities and brilliant talents. But most of all, they ere dedicated to their passion and love that’s music.

- Anna Dumpe


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RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF EAGERLY AWAITED NEW STUDIO ALBUM

MULTI-PLATINUM, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BAND TO RELEASE I’M WITH YOU, PRODUCED BY RICK RUBIN, ON AUGUST 30TH ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS

DATELINE — Los Angeles — Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers will release their upcoming tenth studio album, I’m With You, on Warner Bros. Records on August 30th, 2011. Recorded at East West In Los Angeles and Shangri-la in Malibu, CA, I’m With You was produced by Rick Rubin, who has produced the band’s previous five albums, 2006’s Stadium Arcadium, 2002’s By The Way, 1999’s Californication, 1995’s One Hot Minute, and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps and Greg Fidelman.

I’m With You is the band’s first new album since the two-set Stadium Arcadium, which debuted at Number One in 28 countries around the world, including the U.S.— their first Number One album on the Los Angeles quartet’s home turf. The album spawned three Number One Modern Rock hits: “Dani California” (which spent 14 weeks at No. 1 and is one of three songs in the history of Billboard’s Alternative Chart to debut at No. 1), “Tell Me Baby,” and “Snow (Hey Oh).” To support Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers played to millions of fans around the world throughout 2007, including sold-out arena tours of Europe and North America, appearances at the Fuji Festival in Japan and Live Earth in London, and headlining slots at Lollapalooza in Chicago, and the Leeds and Reading Festivals in the U.K.

One of the most successful acts in rock history, Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold more than 60 million albums, including five multi-platinum LPs, and won six Grammy Awards, including “Best Rock Album” for Stadium Arcadium, “Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group” for “Dani California, “Best Rock Song” for “Scar Tissue,” and “Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal” for “Give It Away.” The band holds the record for the most No. 1 singles of all time at Alternative radio, a total of 11, and a combined 81 weeks at No. 1.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, will headline at Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka on August 13th and in Tokyo on August 14th. They will also headline at the Rock in Rio Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 24th.

###

www.redhotchilipeppers.com

www.facebook.com/redhotchilipeppers

www.twitter.com/chilipeppers


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Film Review: X-Men: First Class

Like much of its catalogue, Marvel's X-Men is a flagging franchise whereby its last outing, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', appeared to put the proverbial nail in the coffin. The latest rendition, however, in the form of 'X-Men: First Class' provides a surprisingly refreshing reboot as Marvel looks to give the series the same defibrillation treatment as her other offspring.

First Class is an origins story, beginning in the atomic age of the 1960s. Sebastian Shaw (Bacon), a former Nazi geneticist, has a twisted vision of a glorious future where mutants rule the Earth. In order for his dream to be realized however, he must first eradicate its current occupants, humans. As Shaw seeks to manipulate the Cold War climate toward nuclear armageddon, it is down to a young genetics expert, Charles Xavier (McAvoy), and Shaw's former test subject, Erik Lehnsherr (Fassbender), to form a crack-group of mutants who can stop him.

Firstly, First Class is an absurd piece of alternative history. One could sit and anally pick at how the SR-71 'Blackbird' aircraft used in the film cannot hover and that its first maiden flight was in 1964, not 1962 as the film suggests. But it is the more the glaring gaps pertaining to the plot which really requires one to turn suspend belief. For example, how and why is there a blue child mutant in Charles Xavier's pantry, of all places? Likewise, the attempt to offer a rationale behind Magneto's silly hat only raises more questions than it answers. If muggle Russians made one for Shaw to prevent telepathic mind-reading, then why doesn't every non-X person have one? Further, does Beast really believe his special syrum will work to cure his deformity and allow him to keep his powers, even if his powers hinge on his deformity? Yes, there are massive logic loops, and yes, it is pretty dippy in places, but fortunately First Class is good enough to get away with it.

More pertinent than its historical accuracy and other curiosities is the tale at heart; how the X-Men came to be. Naturally then, the most interesting mechanic at play is the character development of Charles and Erik. Charles will probably raise the most eyebrows, with McAvoy playing a role somewhat removed from the humble qualities embodied in Patrick Stewart's Professor X. Yes, Xavier is still super-intelligent, but he is also a cocky little shit, constantly chasing skirt. The true brilliance in McAvoy's performance however are the little flickers he gives of the person Charles later becomes. Erik's story is more straightforward, but equally fulfilling as we are introduced to his origins at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. Fassbender captures a certain pathos, manifested in his rage against Shaw as he takes to hunting Nazis in a very Ian Fleming's Bond sort of way. His journey follows a logical progression in that his experiences at the hands of the Nazis elucidate the incompatibility of his and Charles' world views, ultimately providing a satisfactory explanation to the pair's split.

Unfortunately, however, First Class stutters and loses a bit of its narrative drive during the second act after Xavier assembles his mutant team. At one point Shaw offers Charles' 'X-Men' (and women) a chance to join him, but it isn't quite clear why some make the decisions they do. This is due to a lack of character development for the 'lesser' participants, compounded by both the film's reliance on plot and the casting of too many characters. Because First Class is so heavy on pushing the plot forward, most characters and themes become lost in one-dimensional cheese. Token moments such as the "let's all have codenames!" and Mystique and Beast's 'character' arcs of 'mutants who just want to be normal' almost ruin it.

One redeeming quality is First Class' many comic moments. Notably, one of the best is when a special cameo growls at Charles and Erik to go fuck themselves. But it is Xavier who gets the last laugh right at the end with a cheeky quip about hair loss. Likewise, whether intended or not, some of the location headers that pop-up are simply inspired; 'Super Top Secret CIA Base' or 'Russian Country Retreat' being personal favourites. Nerds might also smirk at the appearance of half the actors from the Command & Conquer games, Ray Wise again reprising his role as a smarmy politician and Michael Ironside as a grizzled military commander. Indeed, there's a lot to enjoy and First Class' humour doesn't detract from a film that otherwise takes itself pretty seriously.

While First Class isn't, well, First Class, you'll still find enjoyment here. Yes, it has its problems; chaotic, poorly thought out in places and even a bit over-long. But it does just enough to make itself a perfectly watchable, if not bizarre take on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Above all, First Class offers hope for the future of the franchise.

- A.Folwell


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