DAVID GRAY 'Draw The Line' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD I 2CD: "one of the most respected songwriters of his generation" Q Magazine August 2009
With 12 million album sales to date and the best selling album in Ireland ever with 'White Ladder', David Gray is certainly not one to rest on his laurels. Four years after his No.1 album 'Life In Slow Motion', David Gray returns with his highly anticipated new album 'Draw The Line', out September 14th. 'Draw The Line' marks a new chapter for David Gray and his first release with Polydor. The new record will be preceded by lead single 'Fugitive', out September 7th. The album was written and produced by David in his North London studio, The Church. Gray wrote the song 'Draw The Line' in June 2007, which lit the touch paper for the rest of the record and gives the new album its title. It's the warm sound of David Gray's unmistakeable voice and intelligent song writing under a new, revitalised light. Lead single 'Fugitive' is one of the many standout tracks on the album, featuring a soaring contribution from a gospel choir. Other highlights include a joyous collaboration with Annie Lennox on the album's epic finale 'Full Steam Ahead' and a telling duet with American singer-songwriter Jolie Holland on 'Kathleen'. 'First Chance' is buoyed by the sound of a high-strung guitar, while soulful piano based 'Transformation' builds to a powerful crescendo. "I'd been very introspective for whatever reason," he admits. "Partly success, partly things that happened in my life around the time of 'White Ladder'. I guess as a singer-songwriter you're gonna have a little bit of that anyway in your makeup. My previous records were inward most of the time. But suddenly with the song, 'Draw The Line', I'd kicked the front door down and I was outside. The world was my oyster: that's what I felt as a writer." A deluxe edition of the album will also be available from release with a bonus CD featuring 8 of David's greatest hits (including 'Babylon', 'Sail Away' and 'Other Side') performed live at London's Roundhouse.
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE 'Drumming Song' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
C5 I 7": "This year's most unique voice" **** Q
"Lungs exudes the buzz of a fresh and formidable talent dive-bombing the deep end, rather than tentatively testing the water" The Independent Florence + the Machine's debut album 'Lungs' entered the UK charts at #2 this week. It's the only non-Michael Jackson album in the top 5 and most notably - THE fastest selling debut album this year having sold over 63,000 copies in its first week. The next single to be taken from 'Lungs' is the highly charged 'Drumming Song'. A song fuelled by unadulterated passion, desire and fear of the unknown when it comes to falling in (and out) of love.
PIXIE LOTT 'Turn It Up' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD: Pixie exploded onto the scene this June breaking chart records along the way- first ever UK solo female to top the charts with their debut record!
NELLY FURTADO 'Mi Plan' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD: Nelly Furtado has always been an artist who likes to push boundaries and her fourth studio album, 'Mi Plan' (My Plan) is set to do just that. After selling a whopping 15 million English language albums, Canadian born Nelly [the daughter of Portuguese descendants] has decided to fulfil a dream and release her first ever Spanish language album. Having learned Spanish at the age of 14, Nelly has loved singing it ever since. "The world is changing," she says, "and after 10 years recording in English, I hit a wall. I felt this was the moment to make the dream - of doing an album completely in Spanish." She also says that this is a way of giving intensity and identity to her Latin culture and at the same time giving sensations, feelings and rhythms to the non-Spanish speaking world. "I have always adored performing in both Portuguese and Spanish, which both are Latin languages. I can emote better in a Latin language, so the songs have turned out more personal and intimate." Written and co-produced by Nelly, 'Mi Plan' is compiled of 11 songs, and features collaborations with some of the Latin world's biggest names including multi Grammy winner - Juan Luis Guerra, one of Mexico's and Latin America's best selling artists - Alejandro Fernandez; Julieta Venegas, Spanish underground rapper - Mala Rodriguez and African/Spanish Flamenco singer Concha Buika. The debut single 'Manos Al Aire' [Hands In The Air] explores the vulnerability of a person's feelings when they fall in love. A subject people understand no matter what language they speak. With other hits including 'Mas' [More], 'Bajo Otra Luz' [Under Another Light] with Spanish hip-hop wonder La Mala Rodriguez and 'Silencio' [Silence] with Josh Groban.
VARIOUS ARTISTS '12"/80s Electro:Pop' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
3CD: The new instalment of the critically acclaimed 12"/80s series is finally here! With another eclectic and varied selection of the 12"s of the Decade, from the Decade of the 12" this volume's theme is Electro: Pop. The 3CD set showcases electronic, synth and drum machine 80s genres from Electro to Synth pop to New Romantic to New Wave to Hip Hop - all in their full-length 12" extended mix glory. Featuring a mix of the classic and the underground, this back to basics collection includes seminal 80s 12"s from such legends as New Order, Human League, Simple Minds, Grandmaster Flash, Soft Cell, Japan, Afrika Bambaataa, Heaven 17, Yazoo and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, many of who have inspired today's new wave of chart electropop from La Roux to Little Boots to Florence & the Machine to Goldfrapp. Also features the 12" mix of Freestyle's 'Don't Stop the Rock' - the rare, classic 'old school electro' track from the eyebrow raising Cadbury's TV ad and the Frankie Goes to Hollywood New York mix of 'Relax' as featured in the 80s-inspired TV ad for Virgin Atlantic.
THE DAMNED Damned, Damned, Damned: Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
3CD: Damned, Damned, Damned still thrills. Its freshness, energy and capacity to musically assault have never dimmed. As British Punk's first album it remains timeless. Originally released in February 1977 and reaching number 36 in the U.K. chart, the album explodes with an energy, power and cutting edge that none of its rivals came remotely close to matching. As such, it is considered by many fans to be their greatest release in their extensive catalogue. Along with the original album, this Deluxe Expanded Edition captures everything else that the band recorded under professional circumstances during Punk's year zero. Early demos, all the B-sides, both John Peel Sessions, their scorching BBC 'In Concert' and the rare 'Stretcher Case Baby' / 'Sick Of Being Sick' 7" single recording. And if that isn't enough, this release also features a previously unreleased bootleg of the band's very first gig recorded from the 100 Club on July 6th 1976. This is the year one of The Damned and is evidence that this was one of the most extraordinary 12 months for any band, of any era.
THE ISLEY BROTHERS 'The Motown Anthology' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
2CD: Motown's 50th Anniversary Celebrations continue with the release of a fantastic new Isley Brothers Anthology assembling the highlights from their early recordings on Motown along with alternatives cuts and stereo mixes all packaged together in a beautiful 2CD set with original LP sleeves. Without a doubt The Isley Brothers were one of Motown's underrated but talented acts who turned out to be far more popular here in the UK than their homeland thanks to the tireless campaigning of radio disc jockeys and legions of fans. Hailing from Cincinnati, US and born between the late 1930's and early 1940's, Rudolph, O'Kelly and Ronald Isley began their careers as many fellow soul singers did by singing gospel in their home town accompanied by their brother Vernon who was unfortunately killed in an auto accident in 1957. The Isley Brothers offically signed to Motown in 1965 but departed in 1968. Although their stay was brief the sophistication of the music recorded under the wing of prolific production and writing team Holland, Dozier, Holland later established them as one of Motown's finest and most influential acts. This stomping 2CD Anthology chronicles all their early hits such as the club anthem 'This Old Heart Of Mine' which charted in US and UK as well 'I Guess I'll Always Love You', 'Put Yourself In My Place', a newly discovered unreleased track 'Sure Is A Whole Lotta Woman' as well as an array of B-Sides, alternative & stereo mixes all restored from original mono LP tapes. Sleeve notes are supplied by Motown aficionado Paul Nixon. This treasured beautifully designed collection with original LP sleeves will ignite excitement in all Motown lovers old and new. The Isley Brothers still remain as relevant as ever with a career boosting six decades and are proud inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
EUROPE 'Last Look At Eden' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD I Collectors CD: Europe are one of the biggest hard rock bands ever coming out of the eighties, definitely the biggest coming out of Sweden. Formed in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest and guitarist John Norum they took off to conquer the world at the beginning of the 80s to become one of the most successful Rock acts of the decade. Europe sold more than 12 million albums worldwide. The band has achieved two top 20 albums 'The Final Countdown' [1986] and 'Out of This World' [1988] and two top 10 singles ['The Final Countdown' and 'Carrie'] on the US Billboard Charts. 'Last Look At Eden' is a monumental album based on heavy guitars, great keyboards in the 70's hard rock tradition, and vocalist Joey Tempest confirming he has to be one of the most gifted vocalists in rock today. The songwriting is mature and there is not one filler track on the album.
MATT BIANCO 'HiFi Bossanova' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD: Matt Bianco is a UK band formed by Mark Reilly (vocals) in 1982 .Their style was immediately appreciated for the sophisticated mix of Pop and Jazz with Latin Music influences. The name Matt Bianco was inspired by the typical names you would find in 70's spy movies. "Matt Bianco is a made up spy, a secret agent; we loved spy TV themes and film scores", commented Reilly at the time. Basia Trzetrzelewska was the singer on the first album, who's style combined with the original and perfectly arranged and played jazz-pop of the band, which turned out to be unique. Her vocal arrangements gave the album a jazzy dimension and hits like 'Get Out of Your Lazy Bed' and 'Half a Minute' turned Matt Bianco into one of the biggest acts of the 80s all over Europe. Their first album, 'Whose Side Are You On?', made them superstars. Their mixture of Ska, Jazz and Soul, mixed with Basia's impressive and sophisticated vocal harmonies, was something unheard of in 1983. 'Whose Side Are You On?' went platinum in many countries around the world and Matt Bianco grew to be one of the biggest acts of the mid-eighties. After the first album Mark Reilly teamed up with ex-Wham keyboarder Mark Fisher and continued to work with him under the name Matt Bianco until today. Their music has flavours of Bossanova, Salsa and 60's pop, contributing to the creation of a more contemporary sound, compared to the one you can find on the debut album. 'HiFi Bossanova' is an album with no tricks. Arranged with astonishing craftsmanship and recorded by a real, big ensemble. No pro-tools tricks or studio cut and paste... top level musicianship and some killer pop tunes.
CURTIS STIGERS 'Lost In Dreams' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
CD: Curtis Stigers made his debut at the BBC proms on Saturday 1st August 2009 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in a concert that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the MGM film musicals with John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra. Mixing his own material with a few well known standards - and then tossing in curve balls from sources as diverse as Rodgers and Hart, Annie Lennox and Roger Waters - Stigers creates a surprising whole that is clearly greater the sum of its parts. His brand of jazz includes generous doses of soul, pop, blues and a host of other shades too subtle and elusive to grasp, yet too clever and original to ignore.
MOBY 'Mistake' [Release Date 14/09/2009]
12": "'Mistake' is a lovely plea for guidance." - The Guardian "'Mistake' is Moby's tribute to early influences Joy Division." - Daily Mirror "Efforts such as 'Mistake' maintain Moby's predilection for addictive electronic pop." - Future Music Moby's own label Little Idiot Records will release Moby's new single 'Mistake' on 14th September. 'Mistake' is the third track to be taken from Moby's recent self-released album 'Wait For Me'. The 12" includes mixes from Lifelike, Yuksek, Dabruck & Klein and Funkagenda. Moby on 'Mistake': "'Wait For Me' is a very personal record, and for me 'Mistake' is the most personal song on the album. It's definitely the product of spending my adolescence listening to Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen."
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