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Gorillaz Video Screening
Gathered in a small studio in London’s Soho, you have to wonder what could possibly be so impressive about the new Gorillaz video that Britain’s journalists have been shepherded together for a screening. New single “On Melancholy Hill”...Read the full article.....
Frankie & The Heartstrings : Interview
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Sometimes, (not often mind), you go to see a band with a vague sense of expectation, born from nothing more than early releases and odd pieces of press, only for, by some twist of fate, this band you considered “fairly decent” until now to prove one of the...Read the full article.....
Save BBC 6 Music : Consultation
As many of you will be aware Digital radio stations BBC 6 Music and the Asian Network are facing closure as part of a shake-up of the BBC. This proposal has caused general outcry amongst musicians and music fans alike...Read the full article.....
The Drums : Interview
Full of nostalgic charm, The Drums have taken the music scene by surprise in one of the most unlikeliest success stories this year. Harking back to a golden age of music, their surf-tinged indie pop...Read the full article.....
Acid Washed : Interview
Acid Washed are the Parisian duo of Andrew Claristidge and Richard D'Alpert, and although they have day jobs, after hearing their polished self-titled Record Makers debut album, you’d think they’d be full-time musicians... Read the full article.....
Gorillaz : Plastic Beach
What is a Plastic Beach? Is it a metaphor for the consumerist world and its destruction of the planet? Or is it a genius way of not getting sand in your swimming costume? It does not really matter, because... Read the full article.....
Kid Sister
Kid Sister has had a certain amount of notoriety for some time despite her long-awaited debut album only just being dropped after being pushed back over and over again. Such notoriety can be attributed to a number of things...Read the full article.....
Interview with Andy C (RAM Records)
Andrew Clarke, aka Andy C, has been the biggest name in UK drum & bass since it started hitting speakers back in the early 90s. Beginning his career as a producer, he then co-founded the UK’s biggest drum & bass record label to date, RAM Records...Read the full article.....
Hot Chip : One Night in Brixton
Walking through the corridors backstage at the Brixton Academy en route to meet my interview subjects never fails to stir up the musical sentimentality ingrained in me. There is always an air of excitement and adrenaline surging as...Read the full article.....
Beach Break Live 2010
This year sees the return of the UK's biggest student festival, and the ONLY place to be from 14th to 18th June: Beach Break Live 2010, set in the picturesque surroundings of Pembrey Country Park...Read the full article.....
Bigger Than Barry Records
“I was Dj’ing at Mad Decent events in Birmingham when I had this idea come to me...”, sounds like a line from the latest Windows advert. But instead of thinking of ways to complicate PC’s, Tom Short, aka Shorterz, was instead dreaming up his own record label...Read the full article.....
Delphic : Interview
Following a whirlwind 2009, synth masters Delphic show absolutely no sign of letting up. With the release of critically acclaimed debut Acolyte already stamped down as an early achievement...Read the full article.....
Still Flyin' : Interview
San Francisco superband, Still Flyin' have joyously bounded a long way since their joke fuelled dub and reggae infused early development. Their complete refusal to reflect the dark mood of the moment infecting the world...Read the full article.....
Shy Child : Q & A
After a three year hiatus, New York's Shy Child are returning in 2010 with a sound that's more lush, dense, intoxicating, and surprising than ever... Read the full article.....
Slof-Man : Interview
Listing his influences as Benga, Loefah and Skream amongst others, Slof Man makes no apologies for jumping on the Dubstep bandwagon. Despite entering the scene very late, Slof-Man has...Read the full article.....
Plastiscines : Interview
As one of the first signings of Nylon Records in New York, the Parisian all-girl guitar-wielding group Plasticines are back with their sound expanding sophomore record this year. The rock’n’roll of their former effort still exists... Read the full article.....
What or Who to watch out for in 2010
The Noughties are over and we have to say goodbye to the first decade of the Millennium. It is a shame because there was many zeitgeist breaking moments in the decade in the music world. The irony then, that 2009 was a pretty nondescript year, is not lost...Read the full article.....
Albums of The Decade : 2000 - 2009
I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of seeing television programmes lamenting what a piss poor decade the so-called ‘noughties’ have been. I mean, a decade is just a period of time definable by the fact that it spans exactly ten years...Read the full article.....
Whats New?
Well, it's the darkest middle of bleakest midwinter, the days are only fifteen minutes long and the nights last a lifetime. We've been buried in snow, drowned in slush and we’ve lost our summer glow - but this is all about to change on March 13th-15th with Bloc Weekender.
Bloc is the latest music festival to try and take on the Global/Creamfields dance monopoly. And with a line-up featuring some of the world’s best underground artists it looks like a belter. Some of the artists include none other than Aphex Twin, Future Sound of London - who will be doing their first live show in 10 years and many more. Bloc is aimed as a wild, exciting ride to a new and better dimension. Just hold tight and hope you can get through to the other side.
The music on offer is less commercial than what is on offer at many generic dance music festivals. But Bloc takes different approach with it’s ethos of techno, dubstep and electronic dance music. There is certainly something for everyone, with many little gems on offer - its welcomes the new and brave to explore the less commercial acts of the moment.
This year the organisers have taken the plunge and moved the festival to a new location which is Butlins in Minehead – now this may seem like a strange idea but lets face it there is nothing worse being rained on at a festival - those who went to Creamfields last August will be in agreement. The thing about Butlins is – it is actually really good. In previous years the pleasure taken in the holiday-resort side of BLOC may have been a little tongue in cheek. But Butlins Minehead features the kind of holiday entertainment fun stuff you can really get your gurn into.
It houses the largest water park in the South West, which has a wave pool and a flume that fires you screaming from its jaws at a speed of 40 miles per hour. It has a fun fair with rides that are massive enough to freak you out if you’re the kind to get freaked out by massive rides. And it never, ever rains at BLOC – everyone attending is housed in luxury holiday apartments that surround the main, indoor arenas.
This year’s line-up offering is not a list of obvious names nor motley crew of artist that you will have see every year at any festival. This year’s line-up has the depth and intrigue to show the public that the organiser’s have their finger on the pulse of underground music.
This year’s headliners are as follows
Aphex Twin & Hecker / The Future Sound of London
Jamie Lidell / Carl Craig / Afrika Bambaataa / Green Velvet
Skream / Benga / Metro Area / Altern-8 / 4Hero
Busy P/ Egyptian Lover / Arabian Prince / Daniel Bell / Heartbreak / I-F / BUSY P
Words: Andrew Rafter
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