DCMusic

Just three days left to vote in 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:16:28 +0000

img src=http://dcmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/52886.jpg / There are just three days to go to vote for the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards.br / br / Online voting will finish at 4pm on Thursday (February 19), giving you your last change to sway the result ahead of this year's ceremony, which takes place at London's Brixton Academy on February 25.br / br / Head to NME.COM/awards now to cast your vote.br / br / Meanwhile, you can also get involved in this year's awards yourself. The Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig is taking place at the O2 Arena in the capital on February 26 and features performances from Crystal Castles, White Lies, Franz Ferdinand and a full 90-minute set from this year's Godlike Geniuses The Cure.br / br / Get Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig tickets now. br

Music Review: Incognito - emMore Tales Remixed/em

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:18:21 +0000

pIncognito fans may be in for a surprise when listening to More Tales Remixed, a re-imagining of the acid jazz group#39;s 2008 release Tales From the Beach. Band founder Jean-Paul ldquo;Blueyrdquo; Maunick handed over the album to DJs from around the world, and the results comprise this new album. Listeners may be shocked by this experiment, which represents a radical departure from their typical jazz-funk sound. Still, many of the cuts show how artful remixes can transform songs./p pThe original album had a melancholy feel; while songs such as ldquo;Happy Peoplerdquo; radiated positivity, ldquo;Step Asiderdquo; and ldquo;I Remember A Timerdquo; reflected heartbreak. The heavy beats dominating More Tales Remixed tend to mute the tracks#39; emotional connotations, instead calling upon people to just dance. Dimitri ad DJ Meme#39;s version of ldquo;Step Aside,rdquo; for example, turns this song into a fun, disco-era experience, complete with lush strings, a front-and-center bass line, and exotic percussion. Tortured Soul#39;s re-visioning of ldquo;Love, Joy, Understandingrdquo; also uses strings and a disco beat to maintain a #39;70s vibe. br/ /p pimg src=http://dcmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/52879.jpg / Another highlight is ldquo;Feel the Pressure,rdquo; which DJ Yam Who? infuses with a funky bass and drum line. The press release cites Bluey#39;s approval of this mix, claiming that it recalls Incognito#39;s early sound. Indeed, this remixed track would not sound out of place on the group#39;s debut album, 1981#39;s Jazz Funk. The same could be said for ldquo;I#39;ve Been Waiting,rdquo; with Ski Oakenfull punctuating the faster beat with a funky synthesizer riff. Wisely, each DJ keeps the vocals of Maysa Leak largely unchanged, particularly on Francis Hylton#39;s remix of ldquo;I Remember A Time.rdquo; Not all of the cuts emphasize vocals, however. This is best represented by ldquo;Freedom to Loverdquo; as Simon Grey#39;s pulsating mix defies listeners not to get up and dance./p pNot all of the cuts benefit from remixing mdash; ldquo;I Come Alive (Rimshots and Basses)rdquo; benefited from intricate percussion and a popping bass line on the original album. The dance remix mutes those qualities, robbing the song of its irresistible funk. The Outside remix of ldquo;Tales from the Beachrdquo; also fails to greatly enhance the jazzy original, and Physics#39; D.O.G.H. mix of ldquo;N.O.T.rdquo; does not retain the sauciness of the female narrator (and the soulful horn section) on the Tales from the Beach version. /p pFans of dance, house, and techno may enjoy More Tales Remixed, and the CD would fit in perfectly in a club atmosphere. Longtime Incognito fans need to hear the album with an open mind and a fresh perspective, as this album is essentially a completely different work from Tales from the Beach. While not all of the remixes work equally well, More Tales Remixed is an interesting experiment in radically transforming songs through stronger beats and revised instrumentation. /p pFor more information, visit Incognito#39;s official site and MySpace page. /p br

Chris Brown ‘Sorry And Saddened … Over What Transpired’

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:53:57 +0000

p p Chris Brown issued a statement on Sunday (February 15), a week after his alleged altercation with singer Rihanna. /ppWords cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired, the statement reads. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person. /ppMuch of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong, the statement continues. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds. /pp/pp /ppThe statement did not directly address the alleged altercation. Brown was arrested February 8 on suspicion of making criminal threats, released on $50,000 bail and given a March 5 court date. /ppBrown's biological father and sister, as well as Rihanna's father, have spoken out in the wake of the incident. Jay-Z spoke with reporters on Saturday about it as well. /ppRihanna's father said the singer is resting with friends in Barbados. Brown's father said he is currently at home, presumably in Virginia. /ppGet resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. /p /p br

Music DVD Review: The Lee Boys - The Lee Boys Live At Bonnaroo

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:35:27 +0000

Normally when you think of steel guitar, especially pedal steel guitar, the last thing in the world that's going to come to mind is African American gospel music. A country gospel tune like "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" sure, but you don't ever expect to hear one playing in one of those earth shaking, hip swinging gospel choirs that inspired today's funk, soul, and blues musicians. Yet if you were a congregation member of The House Of God, Keith Dominion churches, steel guitar in shape or another is exactly what you'd have been hearing since the 1930's.

Sacred steel music was born out of the popularity of the Hawaiian Steel guitar in the early part of the twentieth century. Two brothers, Troman and Willie Eason were responsible for bringing the steel guitar to the House of God services in the 1930's. While Troman had learned how to play in the Hawaiian style, Willie had not had any formal training and simply played the music he was familiar with on this guitar. From such humble beginnings a genre was born.

The Lee Boys are a family group consisting of three brothers; Alvin (guitar), Derrick, and Keith (vocals) and three nephews; Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7 string bass), and Earl Walker (drums). They each grew up making music in a House of God congregation in Perrine Fl. where the brother's father was pastor and steel player. Having been playing together, or individually, in the church since they were seven they've not only developed into proficient musicians but have also learned the key elements for staging a successful show. You don't need to look any further than their new DVD release Live At Bonnaroo for evidence of just how impressive they are.

Sunday mornings at folk festivals were reserved for gospel groups from all over, and I guess Bonnaroo is keeping up that tradition as this recording is of a Sunday morning performance The Lee Boys gave at last year's festival. Now I can't think of a tougher time, or a harder audience to play for, than the Sunday morning of a festival. Half the crowd is either recovering from the night before, if they've even gone to bed yet, and the other half are just wandering onto the site and getting their bearings. A band has to be pretty special and be able to deliver a red hot performance in order to first grab, and then hold, this type of audience's attention for the length of the concert.

International News: Tiesto invites fans to compile 100th podcast

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:04:05 +0000

Rapidly nearing its 100th episode, Tiesto has opened up the selection of tracks for his milestone edition of the Club Life podcast to his fans, inviting keen Tiestoites worldwide to email him with their suggestions of what he should feature.

TiestoвЂ™s Club Life first began in April, 2007, as a program on Radio 538 in The Netherlands. It very quickly grew beyond the confines of broadcast radio into a global podcast, and on February 27th it will celebrate its 100th installment. It now receives almost 300,000 downloads each week!

вЂњI want the listeners to compile my playlistвЂќ, Tiesto remarked. вЂњBefore the show people can email me at tiesto@radio538.nl, so that everyone can send in their requests and decide what I will play.вЂќ If you want to take part be sure to get cracking as itвЂ™s only a few weeks away.