East 17 To Release New Album In April
East 17, one of Britain’s most successful teen-oriented dance-pop bands to emerge out of the early 90s, will release a new studio album titled Dark Light on April 2. The bands current line-up, which includes all the original members minus Brian Harvey, have worked with producers Bob Rose and Tony Mortimer on the release.
According to the press release, The album “showcases the band’s new transatlantic rock sound, reminiscent of bands like Kings Of Leon and U2 and even artists like Brian Adams and Billy Joel”. Songwriter Mortimer said: “I think everyone is subconsciously inspired by American music and rock ‘n’ roll and this time around we wanted to do something more live with less tricks.”
Dark Light, which marks the bands first new studio album since 1999, will be released on April 2 on FOD, distributed by Nova via Universal. The album will be spearheaded by the single ‘I Can’t Get You Off My Mind (Crazy)”; check out the music video for the song below.
Natalie Merchant To Perform At Benefit Concert Against Hydrofracking
Former 10,000 Maniacs lead singer Natalie Merchant will perform at a very special benefit concert against Hydrofracking on March 10th at the Forum Theatre in Binghamton, New York.
Not sure what Hydrofracking is? I wasn’t either, but I found this website that explains exactly what it is.
Slick water hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking, is a new development in natural gas extraction. The process was created by Halliburton Inc. (well known for its work in Iraq and elsewhere), Schlumberger Inc., and Messina Inc. This process makes mining for natural gas in dense shale more economically possible, where before it was not.
According to the press release, shale gas hydrofracking is perhaps the most deleterious technology ever invented to poison our land, air, and water. The Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative is dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the precious and still largely clean waters of New York State. Our focus is event-based education, and we harness the considerable power of live music presentation to illuminate and educate the public at large about the importance of clean water and a healthy environment.
“Hydrofracking poses the greatest threat to clean drinking water in New York and Pennsylvania right now. Our opposition to this threat is imperative. I hope people can come to the concert to show their concern,” Natalie Merchant explains.
The concert benefits this summer’s Big Splash Concert Series, future awareness and educational events, and the fight against shale gas hydrofracking. Tickets for the concert can be purchased via Ticketmaster or at the Forum Theatre Box Office. I really wish I could see her perform live. She made some of my favorite songs of the 90s: “Wonder,” “Carnival,” “Jealousy” and “Because the Night” with the 10,000 Maniacs.
Premiere: Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick feat. Skin – If This Ain’t Love
Erick Morillo, Eddie Thoneick & former Skunk Anansie front woman Skin have joined forces on an amazing new dance track titled “If This Ain’t Love. I can honestly say that “If This Ain’t Love” is one of my favorite dance tracks to come out of the year so far. From the outset, “If This Ain’t Love” is in a class of its own. The unmistakable voice of Skin provides an almost ethereal, euphoric dynamic against Morillo and Thoneick’s pumping house set-up. Soaring across thundering guitar riffs and uplifting piano chords, the singer’s emotive performance lifts the track higher and higher as the beats caress the bass lines underneath her.
“If This Ain’t Love” is out now on iTunes, but only the full length club mixes. I am hoping the radio edit will be released soon.
Laidback Luke Announces North American Tour Dates
Dutch super-producer Laidback Luke is gearing up for a major North American tour. The seven-week tour, which is in support of his new single “Speak Up” featuring Wynter Gordon, kicks off March 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada and ends on April 22nd in Bloomington, Indiana.
“I’m so about my Speak Up! Bus Tour. It’s a first for me and so I am looking forward to a completely new experience, performing at places I’ve never been to before now. It’s set to be a big adventure and hope to see you all on board soon!,” Luke says.
Laidback Luke will release “Speak Up” March 12th on Beatport and March 27th at all other digital partners. In April, the Dutch DJ will release a remix package that includes mixes from Chris Lake, Mark Knight, Oliver Twizt, Moska and Das Kapital. For a full list of tour dates, check out Laidback Luke’s official website.
Premiere: Aqua Diva – What Is Love?
Milan based singer, songwriter and producer Aqua Diva has premiered the music video for her brand new single “What Is Love.” The track has received mixes by Total Sound & Blinders, Jesse Voorn, Antillas & Dankann and Ron May.
You may recognize Aqua Diva for her recent reworks of the late Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Eminem’s “Without me”. You can download “What Is Love” on Beatport today.
Download: Annie Lennox – Little Bird (Disfunktion Bootleg)
If you have been reading the blog for a while, you know how much I love a good classic to be turned upside down and brought back to life. Well, the production duo Disfunktion (Barteld Frech & Mike Tielemans) have done just that with the Annie Lennox classic “Little Bird”. They have given the song an update and transformed it into a feel good club anthem.
I have always been a fan of the original version of “Little Bird”, which was released as a single from Annie’s album Diva in 1993, as well as the remix by the Utah Saints, but the Disfunktion mix is my favorite by far. The feel good remix has apparently made its was into the sets of iconic Dutch DJ Tiësto and Ferry Corsten. If it is good enough for Tiësto, it should be good enough for everyone. Grab the track below while I look for my glowsticks. They’re around here somewhere.
No Luvin’ For New Madonna Single
Things aren’t looking so great for the Queen of Pop. “Give Me All Your Luvin”, the lead single from Madonna’s forthcoming album, MDNA, looks like it will drop out of the UK top 40 soon. The track, which managed to chart at a disappointing No. 37 on the UK charts, is doing better in the U.S. where it sits at No. 10, becoming her 38th Hot 100 top 10 in the United States.
As a Madonna fan, it pains me to admit that “Give Me All Your Luvin” is one of the weakest singles of Madonna’s impressive career. I tried to get into it, but it isn’t going to happen. “Give Me All Your Luvin” sounds like a song tailor-made for some one much younger. Madonna tries to make up for the lack of a decent tune by throwing in M.I.A and Nicki Minaj for the cool factor, but it comes across as desperate. It just doesn’t work. I am still holding out for something to rekindle my love for Madonna, but for now, it isn’t looking so good. Like I said in a previous post, I really hope she can somehow reconnect with the generation that has been with her since the beginning. We are still here waiting for her.
MDNA will hit stores on March 26, 2012 via Live Nation/Interscope.
Preview: Matt Zarley – Trust Me (Cahill Remix)
Allure of Sound favorite Matt Zarley, who created quite a buzz with the release of his “WTF” music video last year, will release his new single “Trust Me” in March.
“Trust Me”, which was written by Zarley, renowned house producer Mark Picchiotti and Joe Hurt, has received a suite of remixes by some of the biggest names in dance music, including Cahill, Moto Blanco, Danny Verde, DJ Twisted Dee, South of Roosevelt, and Mark Picchiotti.The track is the third single to be taken from Matt’s latest studio effort, Change Begins With Me, which was released in August of last year. Listen to a snippet of the forthcoming Cahill remix of “Trust Me” below.
