Weekly Round Up (11 May 2009)

Hello and welcome to the latest round up

Top Stories
At the expense of labouring the point and following recent claims from Joe Satriani and Cat Stevens that 'Viva La Vida' was a rip-off, Coldplay have tried to defend their innocence. Drummer Will Champion has denied that the band have ripped off any other artists in an interview with Hamptonroads.com stating that the band "haven't done anything wrong".

He added: "It's tough when people accuse you of stealing something when you know that you didn't. We accept that it's part of the territory and know it is only for some reason the successful songs that seem to be the ones that are accused of being stolen. So you go figure it out."
"There are elements of our music that I've heard in other people's music," he said, "but a very difficult thing to define. There are only eight notes in an octave and no-one owns them. There are probably about 12,000 songs that feature the exact same chord progression. I think it [plagiarism] lies on an intent to steal, which we certainly have never done and never would. "It's unfortunate but it's the way people are. That's that. We're confident we haven't done anything wrong."

Hmmm....


Meanwhile, back in download city, Spotify is apparently lining up a new premium service that will allow users who pay a monthly fee to download and keep as many tracks as they want from the music application. For around 10 quid a month you will be given access to Spotify's entire catalogue under the agreement and be able to download high quality MP3's of every available track on the service.

This scheme could be in place by the summer, for now the company is trying to keep punters happy be adding 120,000 tracks to the library, the biggest update since its launch in October.

Myspace Magic
Top of the pops on myspace this week are Alexis Blue, who have added a new track to their profile ahead of their UK tour. 'Tarred and Feathered' is, in the band's own words, "by far the most Pop song we have written (except for the new one we are currently working on)" and they are not far wrong. Catchy and lyrically solid - 'Radiohead, microwave meals and a single bed' - this band goes from strength to strength. Bass player Chris Stewart told nme-e about current activity: "We hope to record a few new demo songs soon, working with 14th Floor Records (Warner Sub-division, Wombats signed to them) at the moment which may lead on to getting signed so things are coming along pretty well".
And so they should too. I'm looking forward to being able to say 'they went to the same school as me'!

Still in the 'Pool Myspace Magic boys, Fly With Vampires have added a new track to their player. 'Puppet Master' is a real grower with quality arrangements. An extremely promising new track from a band which is just starting out, but shows great promise.



Reviews
This week's big release is Maximo Park's third album, 'Quicken The Heart', which will be fighting The Maccabees' 'Wall Of Arms' for top album of the month and, who knows, the year. Both will be reviewed very soon.


More next week. But don't miss an exclusive interview with Liverpool's The Idles later on in the week. The latest scouse band to feature on Myspace Magic is a real treat.

Cheers

Weekly Round Up (30 Mar 2009)

Welcome to the latest batch of interesting (?) new stories from the music world.

Top Stories
Revolutionaries Manic Street Preachers have stopped the British National Party from using their 1998 Number 1 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next', after the far-right political party used the track as the backing for a video titled 'The Cesspit Called London' on their website and on a YouTube account without seeking permission to do so. The material was removed after SonyBMG, the band's label, issued a cease and desist order.

Ironically, the lyrics to that song concern the International Brigade – the group of volunteers who went to Spain to fight Franco's fascist ranks in the Spanish Civil War. Another example of the BNP's ignorance.

Back in the "cesspit", organisers of a campaign aiming to ensure that a suitable replacement is built for the London Astoria, which was forced to close in the name of urban development in January, held a rally outside the venue last Saturday.

Campaigners were asked to take their iPods with them in order to have a silent disco directly outside the venue, due for imminent demolition.

A campaign petition has now been signed by over 1,000 people, while the campaigners' official Facebook page has over 3,000 members.

Back in the 'Pool, Some of the city's best known musicians have teamed up with Liverpool players to honour the Hillsborough disaster, which "celebrates" its 20th anniversary in April.

Musicians including John Power (The La's, Cast), Peter Hooton (The Farm), Nick Kilroe (Echo And The Bunnymen) and Rob Taylor (The Troubadours) have recorded an updated version of Irish folk song and fans' favourite 'Fields Of Athernry'.

The song, which has been renamed 'Fields Of Anfield Road', also features vocals from the 'Kop Choir', made up of past players including Kenny Dalglish, Phil Thompson, John Aldridge, and Bruce Grobbelaar.

Speaking of the single, Hooton said he wants the track to be seen as a tribute.

"A lot of people have volunteered to get involved," he said. "It is a reworking of a Kop classic and I hope it raises awareness of the Hillsborough disaster and is a fitting tribute to the 96 and the survivors."

Starsailor frontman James Walsh, a big Liverpool fan, also appears on the track.

As a member of the "Blue half", I wish the project the very best. I was unfortunate to be around at the time and hope this serves as a deserved tribute to all those who were affected.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

Myspace Magic
Plenty happening on Myspace this week, in fact too much to summarise here. With no disrespect to the rest, the picks of the week are Loveday Fools, a band who will appear on this page in the next week or so and who have uploaded another new track to their page this week. 'The Year I Started Smoking' confirms their ability to bang out a quality melody. (And thanks for sending me a sneak preview, gents!).

Fellow friends, Alexis Blue, also uploaded some new sounds. Their debut album is available on a free download from their page. I seriously recommend a visit and listen.

Following the latest Myspace Magic interview with midlanders The Scholars, the lads have informed me that their demo album 'Turbulence', mentioned in the article, is available for full streaming on LastFM at the following link:

http://www.last.fm/music/the+scholars/turbulence

You can read the full interview here (shame on you if you haven't already!)

And finally, congratulations to Londoners We Have Band, who have won the Emerging Bands competition organised by the Glastonbury festival. The lucky gits will be on one of the main stages during the festival.

Reviews
No particularly important releases this week. Still pending is a write-up of 'Klang' by The Rakes, and a summary of this months top albums will appear soon.

Festival Fever
In the light of Los Planetas' cancellation ahead of this year's SOS 4.8 festival, the organisers have been quick to confirm Maximo Park as replacement and have also rescheduled the programme a little. Spiritualized have now moved from the Friday (May 1) to the Saturday, while the aforementioned Maximo Park will play the main stage on the opening night. You can check out the complete listings here.


Up the road, Benicassim's classic FIB festival announced more confirmed acts to accompany headline acts Oasis, Franz Ferdinand, Kings Of Leon and The Killers. The latest additions are Lily Allen (oh well!), Glasvegas and Mystery Jets. Other confirmed acts included TV On The Radio, Fight Like Apes and Late Of The Pier. Again, more information is available on the official webpage.

More next week.


Read all NME-E News

Myspace Magic: Alexis Blue

The second Myspace Magic band to be featured take me right back to my roots. I've been living in Spain for 12 years now and soon got tired of trying to explain where The Wirral was. I quickly opted for the easy way out and started to tell people that I was from Liverpool, choosing to spend my time enlightening Spaniards about Everton instead!

However, maybe the time has come for me to start telling the truth, especially since the emergence of Alexis Blue from my real home town, Wallasey (I even went to the same school as them, albeit nearly 20 years earlier!). Indeed, if this indie foursome live up to expectations, many a scouser might start crossing the Mersey to jump on the band wagon in the near future.

The first thing that impressed me was the fact they actually asked ME to be their friends on myspace!! Still can't understand what possessed them to do that, but I'm really glad they did. Having accepted their kind offer, I had a look at their myspace page and was, naturally, taken aback. This group boasts an impressive list of artists they've supported and offer a free download of an accomplished debut album "Hypothetical Situations", on which tracks like 'You won't lose much sleep', 'Dyslexics of the world...untie!' or 'Alter ego' quickly stick in your mind.

Secondly, they were ever so obliging when I asked them to give me an interview. Here's what Andeh Stewart (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard), Mark Easton (Drums/Backing Vocals/Cowbell), Paul Easton (Guitar/Backing Vocals) and Chris Stewart (Bass/Backing Vocals) had to say about themselves:

NME-E: Who are you and how did you come about?
AB: We are Alexis Blue, a Merseyside/Wirral indie-pop-alt-rock 4 piece band who formed at the end of 2005 and released our first material in 2006. We are made up of 2 pairs of brothers (Andeh and Chris, Mark and Paul) and have just released our debut album "Hypothetical Situations". We have played and toured with the likes of The Wombats, The Kooks, Little Man Tate, Reverend & The Makers and Noah & The Whale over the past 24 months. We were recently interviewed and performed live on Channel 4 as part of the final for Road To V Festival 2008.

See what I mean about the bands they've supported? Not bad for a group out of Wallasey, I can tell you!

NME-E: Tell us about your releases to date?
AB: From 2006 we have released 2 EPs, a debut single in 2007 entitled 'You wont get much sleep' which sold out in the UK and Japan (the video was also shown on MTV, Liverpool BBC Big Screen and Virgin On Demand) and a debut album "Hypothetical Situations" in November 2008.

It's easy to see why the single sold out. Incredibly catchy, one to tap your foot to down at the pub.

NME-E: If you could choose a band to support you, who would it be?
AB: Parka. A great new band from Glasgow/London who have supported us and we have supported a few times. They play some fantastic upbeat ska-pop-indie music and it would be great to tour with them around the UK.

Given they could have chosen anyone, that's quite a humble gesture from the lads (and another band to check out!)

NME-E: What was your favourite album of 2008?
AB: A mix of albums, from Parka & Mystery Jets to Margot and The Nuclear So & So's & Laura Marling. 2008 has been a great year for the lesser known bands breaking through and good inspiration for the future.

I agree about the lesser bands having a good year and they should be given a chance - why listen to dross from the top dogs when there are bands like this around.

NME-E: What are your objectives/prospects for 2009?
AB: To release a new single and play more gigs in Europe. At the end of 2008 we played in Italy and hope to play abroad in more European countries as well as heading to America. Just continue on from what has been a successful year for the band. Signing a record deal would also be great haha.

I don't see the reason to laugh, moreover if you don't sign a deal that would be a motive for tears. As for the possibility of more European gigs, as stop off in Spain would definitely be appreciated.

I'm not a fan of the typical "sounds just like..." comparison, so I'll let you judge Alexis Blue for yourselves. What I can categorically state is that you won't regret it - there's something for everyone.


I like to thank Andeh, Paul, Mark and Chris for collaborating with nme-europe and wish them every success in the future. As usual, I request you visit their myspace and give them a chance to shine.