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Grinderman – Grinderman

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Grinderman – Grinderman

The new name – the alter ego, the Bad Seeds doppelganger – sounds like some hideous Saw-style horror flick. Nick Cave recasts The Hitcher in the barren land of The Proposition, perhaps. At the very least, you’re expecting a return to some primal swamp of Birthday Party machismo and misogyny. Actually, Grinderman – Cave plus bassist Martyn Casey, drummer Jim Sclavunos and Warren Ellis on electric bouzouki, violin and more - turns out to be something rather different: a cry of the erotic Id versus the soulless gratification of the modern Ego, or in Old Saint Nick’s own words “the howl in the dark of the Everyman”. It’s also very, very good – at least as good as the reborn Seeds of 2004’s Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. As Harpo Marx knew, sometimes all it takes is a new hat to change your whole character. The Grinderman hat seems to have tilted the basic Bad Seeds stance brilliantly on its side, bringing out a new humour and a grumpy-old-rocker gravitas. From the off, on the magnificently Stoogey “Get It On”, Grinderman are thrillingly intolerant of the facile society we’re all imprisoned in, positing the delta blues “grinder-man” as a dark foe of the inane and celeb-fixated. Long a Cave referent, the Stooges are all over Grinderman – fittingly, in the month they return themselves. The hysterically funny “Depth Charge Ethel” tugs hard on “Fun House”, while the nasty guitars of “Honey Bee” are pure “TV Eye”. The imprint of Laughing Len Cohen, meanwhile, is all too discernible on “Go Tell The Women”, a sinister shrug of alpha-male disdain from a chap who’s never quite got in touch with his feminine side and quite possibly doesn’t possess one. Already Grinderman’s most notorious track is “No Pussy Blues”, Cave cutting to the chase as he locates Man’s core angst in the frustrating of lust. “I read her Eliot, I read her Yeats,” Nick sings, “I tried my best to stay up late... but she just didn’t want to.” When Warren Ellis lets fly with his Ron Asheton wah-wah guitar blizzard, Everyman’s dammed-up libido comes gushing out of the amplifier. Out of the abattoir and into the grinder, then: get out of the way and let the man do his thing. BARNEY HOSKYNS

The new name – the alter ego, the Bad Seeds doppelganger – sounds like some hideous Saw-style horror flick. Nick Cave recasts The Hitcher in the barren land of The Proposition, perhaps. At the very least, you’re expecting a return to some primal swamp of Birthday Party machismo and misogyny.

Actually, Grinderman – Cave plus bassist Martyn Casey, drummer Jim Sclavunos and Warren Ellis on electric bouzouki, violin and more – turns out to be something rather different: a cry of the erotic Id versus the soulless gratification of the modern Ego, or in Old Saint Nick’s own words “the howl in the dark of the Everyman”. It’s also very, very good – at least as good as the reborn Seeds of 2004’s Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus.

As Harpo Marx knew, sometimes all it takes is a new hat to change your whole character. The Grinderman hat seems to have tilted the basic Bad Seeds stance brilliantly on its side, bringing out a new humour and a grumpy-old-rocker gravitas. From the off, on the magnificently Stoogey “Get It On”, Grinderman are thrillingly intolerant of the facile society we’re all imprisoned in, positing the delta blues “grinder-man” as a dark foe of the inane and celeb-fixated.

Long a Cave referent, the Stooges are all over Grinderman – fittingly, in the month they return themselves. The hysterically funny “Depth Charge Ethel” tugs hard on “Fun House”, while the nasty guitars of “Honey Bee” are pure “TV Eye”. The imprint of Laughing Len Cohen, meanwhile, is all too discernible on “Go Tell The Women”, a sinister shrug of alpha-male disdain from a chap who’s never quite got in touch with his feminine side and quite possibly doesn’t possess one.

Already Grinderman’s most notorious track is “No Pussy Blues”, Cave cutting to the chase as he locates Man’s core angst in the frustrating of lust. “I read her Eliot, I read her Yeats,” Nick sings, “I tried my best to stay up late… but she just didn’t want to.” When Warren Ellis lets fly with his Ron Asheton wah-wah guitar blizzard, Everyman’s dammed-up libido comes gushing out of the amplifier. Out of the abattoir and into the grinder, then: get out of the way and let the man do his thing.

BARNEY HOSKYNS

Willy Mason – If The Ocean Gets Rough

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Willy Mason – If The Ocean Gets Rough

Given his prodigious talent, it’s fitting that the teenage Mason was discovered on local radio by Conor Oberst. Like the Bright Eyes wunderkind – who quickly signed him to his own Team Love label in the US – the Massachusetts songsmith seemed ripe beyond his years. Coming on like a dusty old bluesman with a carpetbag of tricks, it was hard to believe that Mason’s 2004 debut, Where The Humans Eat, was the work of a 19-year-old from an isolated enclave of Martha’s Vineyard. In the UK too, the album did brisk business, spawning an unexpected Top 30 hit in "Oxygen". Still only 22, Mason’s follow-up is even more of an achievement. Weathered and intelligent, these songs resonate like folk antiquities from another age. Even more remarkably, they never sound forced. Mason’s may be an existential modern hobo, but he also has a great sense of community. Most of these 11 originals are drawn back home, with smalltown family life a sanctuary from the outside world. The protagonist of slow acoustic shuffle "Riptide" returns to the homestead after the city destroyed his dreams: "I guess these folks are the only ones I believe". Others are less straightforward. "The World That I Wanted", for instance, tells of a love-starved son grieving for a dead father without comprehending why. But wordplay and stories are only part of Mason’s minstrelsy. He has an uncommon ear for a melody, too. "Save Myself", an infectious strum of wiry folk, would be a huge hit in a just world. And for subtlety, "When The Leaves Have Fallen" is unbeatable. An apocalyptic warning shot similar to "Oxygen", it builds to a climax of Indian tom-toms, piano and simmering strings. A romantic idealist rather than a fatalist, Mason feels like Americana: The Next Generation. ROB HUGHES

Given his prodigious talent, it’s fitting that the teenage Mason was discovered on local radio by Conor Oberst. Like the Bright Eyes wunderkind – who quickly signed him to his own Team Love label in the US – the Massachusetts songsmith seemed ripe beyond his years. Coming on like a dusty old bluesman with a carpetbag of tricks, it was hard to believe that Mason’s 2004 debut, Where The Humans Eat, was the work of a 19-year-old from an isolated enclave of Martha’s Vineyard. In the UK too, the album did brisk business, spawning an unexpected Top 30 hit in “Oxygen”.

Still only 22, Mason’s follow-up is even more of an achievement. Weathered and intelligent, these songs resonate like folk antiquities from another age. Even more remarkably, they never sound forced. Mason’s may be an existential modern hobo, but he also has a great sense of community. Most of these 11 originals are drawn back home, with smalltown family life a sanctuary from the outside world. The protagonist of slow acoustic shuffle “Riptide” returns to the homestead after the city destroyed his dreams: “I guess these folks are the only ones I believe”. Others are less straightforward. “The World That I Wanted”, for instance, tells of a love-starved son grieving for a dead father without comprehending why.

But wordplay and stories are only part of Mason’s minstrelsy. He has an uncommon ear for a melody, too. “Save Myself”, an infectious strum of wiry folk, would be a huge hit in a just world. And for subtlety, “When The Leaves Have Fallen” is unbeatable. An apocalyptic warning shot similar to “Oxygen”, it builds to a climax of Indian tom-toms, piano and simmering strings. A romantic idealist rather than a fatalist, Mason feels like Americana: The Next Generation.

ROB HUGHES

Daft Punk To Go In Search Of Nessie

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Daft Punk To Go In Search Of Nessie

French duo Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, collectively known as electronic music wizards Daft Punk have been confirmed as headlining Rock Ness - the music festival at Loch Ness this year. The Chemical Brothers will also be headlining the expanded two-day event on June 9 and 10. The Chemical Brothers have eloquently said how pleased they are to be playing, saying"“We’re ready to Rock the Ness! We can’t wait to play such a special Scottish scene.” Last year's inaugural event saw Fat Boy Slim aka Norman Cook lead the frenzy of 25,000 people on the banks of historic Loch Ness, outside the village of Dores, four miles south-west of Inverness. Organisers have confirmed that 2007's Rock Ness will have it's daily capacity increased to 35,000, and number of stages expanded to four. As well as an outdoor main stage, there will be a 10,000 capacity arena and two smaller boutique stages to add to this year’s musical diversity. Radio Soulwax featuring 2manydjs will host one of the boutique stages on the Saturday night (June 9) alongside Bestival curator and Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank. Other acts so far confirmed to play are Groove Armada, The Cuban Brothers, and The Automatic - with many more rock acts still to be confirmed, including further headliners. The Automatic cant wait to replicate scenes from last year's event, they've said: "We're really looking forward to playing Rock Ness 2007. Scottish crowds are some of the best around and we heard stories about 25,000 fans going absolutely mental when Fatboy Slim dropped ‘Monster’ at Rock Ness last year. It's going to be a lot of fun playing live there!" The festival will be broadcast live and exclusive across radio partner Xfm’s UK network to an audience of 1.6 million listeners. Tickets for Rock Ness go on sale this Saturday (March 3) at 9am. Tickets cost £45 per day or £85 for the weekend. A campsite will be set up adjacent to the main site - with panoramic views of Loch Ness. Camping tickets cost £15. More info and pre-sale tickets can be found at www.rockness.co.uk

French duo Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, collectively known as electronic music wizards Daft Punk have been confirmed as headlining Rock Ness – the music festival at Loch Ness this year.

The Chemical Brothers will also be headlining the expanded two-day event on June 9 and 10.

The Chemical Brothers have eloquently said how pleased they are to be playing, saying”“We’re ready to Rock the Ness! We can’t wait to play such a special Scottish scene.”

Last year’s inaugural event saw Fat Boy Slim aka Norman Cook lead the frenzy of 25,000 people on the banks of historic Loch Ness, outside the village of Dores, four miles south-west of Inverness.

Organisers have confirmed that 2007’s Rock Ness will have it’s daily capacity increased to 35,000, and number of stages expanded to four.

As well as an outdoor main stage, there will be a 10,000 capacity arena and two smaller boutique stages to add to this year’s musical diversity.

Radio Soulwax featuring 2manydjs will host one of the boutique stages on the Saturday night (June 9) alongside Bestival curator and Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank.

Other acts so far confirmed to play are Groove Armada, The Cuban Brothers, and The Automatic – with many more rock acts still to be confirmed, including further headliners.

The Automatic cant wait to replicate scenes from last year’s event, they’ve said: “We’re really looking forward to playing Rock Ness 2007. Scottish crowds are some of the best around and we heard stories about 25,000 fans going absolutely mental when Fatboy Slim dropped ‘Monster’ at Rock Ness last year. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing live there!”

The festival will be broadcast live and exclusive across radio partner Xfm’s UK network to an audience of 1.6 million listeners.

Tickets for Rock Ness go on sale this Saturday (March 3) at 9am. Tickets cost £45 per day or £85 for the weekend.

A campsite will be set up adjacent to the main site – with panoramic views of Loch Ness. Camping tickets cost £15.

More info and pre-sale tickets can be found at www.rockness.co.uk

Wilco Sky Blue Sky Is Set For Release

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Wilco Sky Blue Sky Is Set For Release

Wilco's seventh studio album "Sky Blue Sky" has finally been completed and is set for a UK release on May 14. It is the group's first studio album since 2004's Grammy-Award winning "A Ghost Is Born." Wilco fans have been feverishly discussing on Wilco fansites what might be included on the new LP, after hearing Jeff Tweedy and co preview new material on tour across the US. "Sky Blue Sky" was recorded at Wilco's own studio The Loft in Chicago, and produced by the group too. Uncut can reveal the tracklisting is as follows: Either Way You Are My Face Impossible Germany Sky Blue Sky Side With The Seeds Shake It Off Please With Patient With Me Hate It Here Leave Me (Like You Found Me) Walken What Light On And On And On More information available here from wilcoworld.net Pic credit: Michael Segal

Wilco’s seventh studio album “Sky Blue Sky” has finally been completed and is set for a UK release on May 14.

It is the group’s first studio album since 2004’s Grammy-Award winning “A Ghost Is Born.” Wilco fans have been feverishly discussing on Wilco fansites what might be included on the new LP, after hearing Jeff Tweedy and co preview new material on tour across the US.

“Sky Blue Sky” was recorded at Wilco’s own studio The Loft in Chicago, and produced by the group too.

Uncut can reveal the tracklisting is as follows:

Either Way

You Are My Face

Impossible Germany

Sky Blue Sky

Side With The Seeds

Shake It Off

Please With Patient With Me

Hate It Here

Leave Me (Like You Found Me)

Walken

What Light

On And On And On

More information available here from wilcoworld.net

Pic credit: Michael Segal

Britpop Survivors Release BBC Sessions

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Britpop Survivors Release BBC Sessions

Britpop successes Ocean Colour Scene have this week released an album of their complete BBC sessions, recorded over the last ten years. The digital-only release is part of record label Universal's BBC deal - allowing archive material to be released from the vaults. Other bands whose sessions have been released recently are Therapy?, Pulp, The La's and The Bluetones. The collation of OCS's BBC sessions features fifteen tracks including the mid 90s hits "Riverboat Song", "Travellers Tune", and "The Day We Caught The Train." The band's Steve Craddock said it was a trip down memory lane putting the album together, he said: “We recorded so many sessions over the last 10 years for the BBC, it's great to pull out the old stuff and hear it again. The BBC has a built a fantastic archive over the years and to be part of the drive to make it all available to download is pretty mad. We're really chuffed." You can listen to three tracks from the OCS sessions right here: River Boat Song The Day We Caught The Train Hundred Mile High

Britpop successes Ocean Colour Scene have this week released an album of their complete BBC sessions, recorded over the last ten years.

The digital-only release is part of record label Universal’s BBC deal – allowing archive material to be released from the vaults.

Other bands whose sessions have been released recently are Therapy?, Pulp, The La’s and The Bluetones.

The collation of OCS’s BBC sessions features fifteen tracks including the mid 90s hits “Riverboat Song”, “Travellers Tune”, and “The Day We Caught The Train.”

The band’s Steve Craddock said it was a trip down memory lane putting the album together, he said: “We recorded so many sessions over the last 10 years for the BBC, it’s great to pull out the old stuff and hear it again. The BBC has a built a fantastic archive over the years and to be part of the drive to make it all available to download is pretty mad. We’re really chuffed.”

You can listen to three tracks from the OCS sessions right here:

River Boat Song

The Day We Caught The Train

Hundred Mile High

Wake Up!

John Mulvey
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Thanks to all your responses over the past few days. A couple of people have asked me to write about the Kings Of Leon and Modest Mouse albums, both of which I have here. But to be honest, I'm not hugely keen on either (save the first track of the Kings album, "Knocked Up", which is the best thing they've done by far). The point of Wild Mercury Sound, I guess, is simply to write about things I care for. We get something like 800 new CDs a month sent to the Uncut office, so it seems a bit churlish to fixate on stuff I don't like when I can easily find 20 or 30 gems to blog about each month. In the next few days, I'm planning to write about new albums by Wilco, Bright Eyes and Bill Callahan, plus some great reissues by Trees and the mighty Boredoms. Kings Of Leon fans, in the meantime, should have a look at the new issue of Uncut, which features an interview with the band by Bud Scoppa. I'm advised that it's bad blogging etiquette to turn a post into a trailer for the mag, so I won't dwell too long on the new issue. But I do want to flag up the free CD. It's called "Wake Up!", it's compiled by Stephen Trousse and Allan Jones, and I think it's the best primer to New North American Indie that I've come across. Amongst the big names like The Shins, TV On The Radio, The Decemberists and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, I keep coming back to a song called "The Galaxist" by Deerhoof. I first came across this San Francisco band a few years ago at All Tomorrow's Parties when they were promoting "Milk Man", a concept album about a malign milkman monster thing, and, if memory serves, the singer, Satomi Matsuzaki, was wearing a pair of shoes that looked like bananas. They've become one of those band's bands over the last few years, obsessed over by Radiohead, Wilco, Flaming Lips - big bands on the vaguely leftfield edges of the mainstream, basically. The album that "The Galaxist" comes from, "Friend Opportunity", is out in a couple of weeks, and I reckon it may be their best yet. If I called it cutie-prog, that'd probably be offputting, but it combines fiendishly complex, endlessly mutating art-skronk with really childish and charming pop songs. Sometimes the two contrasting impulses clash and jar, probably on purpose. At other times, they come together beautifully: Kim Gordon's friendlier moments fronting Sonic Youth - "Bull In The Heather", maybe - come to mind. Give "Wake Up!" a listen, anyway, and let me know what you think.

Thanks to all your responses over the past few days. A couple of people have asked me to write about the Kings Of Leon and Modest Mouse albums, both of which I have here. But to be honest, I’m not hugely keen on either (save the first track of the Kings album, “Knocked Up”, which is the best thing they’ve done by far). The point of Wild Mercury Sound, I guess, is simply to write about things I care for.

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Mick Jagger New LP Is In The Works

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Mick Jagger New LP Is In The Works

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger is set to collaborate with Martin Scorsese once again - on a new rock'n'roll film project entitled The Long Play. Scorsese has described his idea for the film as a "rock'n'roll epic" and the script has been written by (US magazine) Rolling Stone writer Rich Cohen as well as Matthew Reiss. The film synopsis follows two music business friends from the early days of R'n'B to contemporary hip hop. Mick Jagger is already working with Scorcese on the Rolling Stones docufilm, United Stones, which is now in post-production. The Oscar-winning director followed the group on their A Bigger Bang Tour in the States last year. Jagger has been busy lately producing various projects; one of which airs tonight on US station ABC. Jagger has produced and is the celebrity subject of a new comedy show, "Knights of Prosperity." Blue-collar workers plan to rob Jagger's '$52 million" apartment over the course of six-weeks. The Stones are also working on the songs and music to soundtrack a new feature length animation film about a single mother living in New York City. "Ruby Tuesday" is expected to be completed in 2008.

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger is set to collaborate with Martin Scorsese once again – on a new rock’n’roll film project entitled The Long Play.

Scorsese has described his idea for the film as a “rock’n’roll epic” and the script has been written by (US magazine) Rolling Stone writer Rich Cohen as well as Matthew Reiss.

The film synopsis follows two music business friends from the early days of R’n’B to contemporary hip hop.

Mick Jagger is already working with Scorcese on the Rolling Stones docufilm, United Stones, which is now in post-production. The Oscar-winning director followed the group on their A Bigger Bang Tour in the States last year.

Jagger has been busy lately producing various projects; one of which airs tonight on US station ABC. Jagger has produced and is the celebrity subject of a new comedy show, “Knights of Prosperity.” Blue-collar workers plan to rob Jagger’s ‘$52 million” apartment over the course of six-weeks.

The Stones are also working on the songs and music to soundtrack a new feature length animation film about a single mother living in New York City. “Ruby Tuesday” is expected to be completed in 2008.

Korn and Velvet Revolver To Play Donington

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Korn and Velvet Revolver To Play Donington

Korn have been added to this year's Download festival bill, along with Velvet Revolver - the supergroup made up of Scott Weiland, Slash, Duff McKagan, Dave Kushner, and Matt Sorum. Jonathan Davis, Korn's vocalist is especially looking forward to playing the hard rock festival this year - after missing Korn's set at last year's event due to last minute illness. Jonathan Davis says, "I am so looking forward to coming to the Download Festival this year. I was heartbroken to pull out last time. So this time I am very happy to be coming back and we promise to rock the place! I will definitely make-up for missing the last one. You can expect an amazing Korn show!" Velvet Revolver lead singer and former Stone Temple Pilot founder; Scott Weiland said: "I have to say, I 'm a big proponent of "the true rock and roll extravaganza." Although I might have to add that the Download Festival might have been a better handle". Other acts annouced to play at the festival headlined by My Chemical Romance, Iron Maiden and Linkin Park are Grammy-nominated Lamb of God, Dragon Force, DevilDriver and last but no means least - Norwegian symphonic/melodic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. Download 2007 takes place on June 8, 9 and 10 at Donington Park. There's exactly 100 days left till the event - get info and tickets by clicking here for www.downloadfestival.co.uk

Korn have been added to this year’s Download festival bill, along with Velvet Revolver – the supergroup made up of Scott Weiland, Slash, Duff McKagan, Dave Kushner, and Matt Sorum.

Jonathan Davis, Korn’s vocalist is especially looking forward to playing the hard rock festival this year – after missing Korn’s set at last year’s event due to last minute illness.

Jonathan Davis says, “I am so looking forward to coming to the Download Festival this year. I was heartbroken to pull out last time. So this time I am very happy to be coming back and we promise to rock the place! I will definitely make-up for missing the last one. You can expect an amazing Korn show!”

Velvet Revolver lead singer and former Stone Temple Pilot founder; Scott Weiland said: “I have to say, I ‘m a big proponent of “the true rock and roll extravaganza.” Although I might have to add that the Download Festival might have been a better handle”.

Other acts annouced to play at the festival headlined by My Chemical Romance, Iron Maiden and Linkin Park are Grammy-nominated Lamb of God, Dragon Force, DevilDriver and last but no means least – Norwegian symphonic/melodic black metal band Dimmu Borgir.

Download 2007 takes place on June 8, 9 and 10 at Donington Park.

There’s exactly 100 days left till the event – get info and tickets by clicking here for www.downloadfestival.co.uk

The Good The Bad and The Queen To Close Palais

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The Good The Bad and The Queen To Close Palais

The Good, The Bad and the Queen have been confirmed as being the last band to play at closing-down London venue, Hammersmith Palais. The supergroup feauturing Blur's Damon Albarn, Clash man Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and ex-Verve Simon Tong will play a special show on March 31. Special guests on the night will be The Tony Allen Orchestra, with many more to be added to the line-up to give the Palais a good party to see it off. The venue is closing following planning permision granted earlier this year to turn the site into office blocks. The bulldozers move in on April 1st. The venue has hosted concerts by The Rolling Stones, The Clash, and U2 amongst the many in it's long history. The annual NME Awards will take place at the venue for the last time at the Palais, tomorrow night (March 1). Tickets for the The Good The Bad and the Queen will go on sale this Friday (March 2), priced £25. Limited to four per person.

The Good, The Bad and the Queen have been confirmed as being the last band to play at closing-down London venue, Hammersmith Palais.

The supergroup feauturing Blur’s Damon Albarn, Clash man Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and ex-Verve Simon Tong will play a special show on March 31.

Special guests on the night will be The Tony Allen Orchestra, with many more to be added to the line-up to give the Palais a good party to see it off.

The venue is closing following planning permision granted earlier this year to turn the site into office blocks. The bulldozers move in on April 1st.

The venue has hosted concerts by The Rolling Stones, The Clash, and U2 amongst the many in it’s long history.

The annual NME Awards will take place at the venue for the last time at the Palais, tomorrow night (March 1).

Tickets for the The Good The Bad and the Queen will go on sale this Friday (March 2), priced £25. Limited to four per person.

Glasto Registration Grace Period

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Glasto Registration Grace Period

Michael Evais, organiser of the Glastonbury festival, has given a grace period to those hoping to register to buy tickets for this year's event. The deadline to register your details with the Glastonbury festival organisers has been extended to March 5. The cut-off point to submit details and a photograph was due to be today, but with over 1200 registrations an hour yesterday, Eaavis hopes fans hoping to come won't be left out. Acts confirmed to play the festival this June include The Who, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Bjork - although the official line-up won't be revealed until tickets are sold-out. Click here for www.glastonburyregistration.co.uk Postal applications can still be picked up from branches of Millets, the high street camping store or downloaded online from here Tickets for the festival taking place on June 22, 23 and 24 will go onsale on April 1.

Michael Evais, organiser of the Glastonbury festival, has given a grace period to those hoping to register to buy tickets for this year’s event.

The deadline to register your details with the Glastonbury festival organisers has been extended to March 5.

The cut-off point to submit details and a photograph was due to be today, but with over 1200 registrations an hour yesterday, Eaavis hopes fans hoping to come won’t be left out.

Acts confirmed to play the festival this June include The Who, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Bjork – although the official line-up won’t be revealed until tickets are sold-out.

Click here for www.glastonburyregistration.co.uk

Postal applications can still be picked up from branches of Millets, the high street camping store or downloaded online from here

Tickets for the festival taking place on June 22, 23 and 24 will go onsale on April 1.

Nicolas Cage Makes Surprise Cameo In Grindhouse

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Nicolas Cage Makes Surprise Cameo In Grindhouse

The star of Wild At Heart, Adaptation and Raising Arizona, Nicholas Cage, speaks exclusively to Uncut in the latest issue, out tomorrow. He talks through his classic film moments and tells us how his surprise cameo in the Tarantino/Rodriguez' double-feature, Grindhouse, came about. Cage told Uncut said was initially to help out a friend. He says: "I did it as a favour for my old friend Rob Zombie, over dinner one night. No money exchanged hands. I didn't know anything about it. Rob said Tarantino and Rodriguez are doing these features, and in between there are these trailers for movies which don't exist. Rob said he was doing Werewolf Nazi Women Of The SS, and did I want to play a Nazi? I said, well, I'm not real comfortable with that. "He goes, well then, would you play Fu Man Chu? Yeah, I might do that, I said. But I don't want to wear any gloopy Asian make-up. I had my own weird ideas about what Fu Man Chu would be doing. "Then I went on the set of Grindhouse later and Bob Weinstein wanted me to do press and all that, and I went: whoa, whoa, whoa. I just did this for Rob, for fun, nothing else. I don't want to mislead people into thinking I'm in a big role in this movie, it's not like that. I'm Fu Man Chu, and nobody will be able to understand a word I'm saying, because Fu is upset about the choices his wives have made with his interior decorating. They've got it all wrong." Read the full interview and for more film news and reviews see the April issue. Grindhouse opens in the UK in the Spring. The trailer is here

The star of Wild At Heart, Adaptation and Raising Arizona, Nicholas Cage, speaks exclusively to Uncut in the latest issue, out tomorrow.

He talks through his classic film moments and tells us how his surprise cameo in the Tarantino/Rodriguez’ double-feature, Grindhouse, came about.

Cage told Uncut said was initially to help out a friend. He says: “I did it as a favour for my old friend Rob Zombie, over dinner one night. No money exchanged hands. I didn’t know anything about it. Rob said Tarantino and Rodriguez are doing these features, and in between there are these trailers for movies which don’t exist. Rob said he was doing Werewolf Nazi Women Of The SS, and did I want to play a Nazi? I said, well, I’m not real comfortable with that.

“He goes, well then, would you play Fu Man Chu? Yeah, I might do that, I said. But I don’t want to wear any gloopy Asian make-up. I had my own weird ideas about what Fu Man Chu would be doing.

“Then I went on the set of Grindhouse later and Bob Weinstein wanted me to do press and all that, and I went: whoa, whoa, whoa. I just did this for Rob, for fun, nothing else. I don’t want to mislead people into thinking I’m in a big role in this movie, it’s not like that. I’m Fu Man Chu, and nobody will be able to understand a word I’m saying, because Fu is upset about the choices his wives have made with his interior decorating. They’ve got it all wrong.”

Read the full interview and for more film news and reviews see the April issue.

Grindhouse opens in the UK in the Spring. The trailer is here

V Festival Line Up Revealed

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V Festival Line Up Revealed

This year's V Festival headliners have been confirmed as being Dave Grohl fronted Foo Fighters, Vegas rockers The Killers and "Chasing Cars" boys Snow Patrol. The festival takes place as usual at two UK sites; Chelmsford Hylands Park and Weston Park in Stafford on the weekend of August 18 and 19. Other acts so far confirmed include Kasabian, Manic Street Preachers, The Kooks, Babyshambles, Amy Winehouse and The Fratellis. NME 'Godlike Genius'' Primal Scream will also play alongside Pete Doherty's Babyshambles and The Coral. Festival circuit favourites James and The Proclaimers also play the festival. Tickets for this year's event will be available from March 1. Oner day earlier if you are a Virgin mobile customer. More details available here from the festival website

This year’s V Festival headliners have been confirmed as being Dave Grohl fronted Foo Fighters, Vegas rockers The Killers and “Chasing Cars” boys Snow Patrol.

The festival takes place as usual at two UK sites; Chelmsford Hylands Park and Weston Park in Stafford on the weekend of August 18 and 19.

Other acts so far confirmed include Kasabian, Manic Street Preachers, The Kooks, Babyshambles, Amy Winehouse and The Fratellis.

NME ‘Godlike Genius” Primal Scream will also play alongside Pete Doherty’s Babyshambles and The Coral.

Festival circuit favourites James and The Proclaimers also play the festival.

Tickets for this year’s event will be available from March 1. Oner day earlier if you are a Virgin mobile customer.

More details available here from the festival website

Gary Numan To Release Trio Of Peel Sessions

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Gary Numan To Release Trio Of Peel Sessions

Gary Numan is to release a collection of live Peel Sessions drawn from his influential electro pop career. Diverse musicians who sing Numan's praises include Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Basement Jaxx and Afrika Bambaataa. Culled from sessions with the late DJ John Peel in 1979 and 2001, "Gary Numan - The Complete John Peel Sessions" features 16 tracks from the Numan's most successful years. The first session in January 1979 happened three months before the release of his LP "Replicas" and tracks "Me! I Disconnect From You", "Down In The Park" and "I Nearly Married A Human" are starkly brilliant. A second session in May the same year produced great funky live versions of "Cars", "Airlane", "Films’ and "Conversation." The final session included in this new Numan collection was recorded in July 2001, when he played nine intensive tracks from "Pure" at John Peel's request. This CD release is the first time the 2001 "Pure" session has been made commercially available. For Numan news – click here for the synthmeister’s regularly updated homepage

Gary Numan is to release a collection of live Peel Sessions drawn from his influential electro pop career.

Diverse musicians who sing Numan’s praises include Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Basement Jaxx and Afrika Bambaataa.

Culled from sessions with the late DJ John Peel in 1979 and 2001, “Gary Numan – The Complete John Peel Sessions” features 16 tracks from the Numan’s most successful years.

The first session in January 1979 happened three months before the release of his LP “Replicas” and tracks “Me! I Disconnect From You”, “Down In The Park” and “I Nearly Married A Human” are starkly brilliant.

A second session in May the same year produced great funky live versions of “Cars”, “Airlane”, “Films’ and “Conversation.”

The final session included in this new Numan collection was recorded in July 2001, when he played nine intensive tracks from “Pure” at John Peel’s request.

This CD release is the first time the 2001 “Pure” session has been made commercially available.

For Numan news – click here for the synthmeister’s regularly updated homepage

Travis Head Into The Woods On Latest Tour

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Travis Head Into The Woods On Latest Tour

Scottish rock band Travis have announced a ten-date tour of the UK for May and June, their first full tour since 2004. They play a handful of now sold-out dates in London, Glasgow and Warrington in March, and the new dates will kick off in Grimsby on May 15. Just prior to the tour, the band will release their highly awaited fifth studio album "The Boy With No Name" on March 7. Produced by longterm collaborator Nigel Godrich, the album is darker and more rounded than previous LPs. These UK shows will see the premiere of this new material live. A track, "Big Chair" was exclusively played on Radio by guest presenter, Chris Martin from Coldplay. Martin introduced the new track by saying, "We're gonna finish with an incredible exclusive, we're very privileged to play it, it's a new song by the band Travis, the band that invented my band and lots of others." You can catch Travis at the following venues, they also play a set of five forest shows in June, as part of the Forestry Commission's special Summer concerts: Grimsby, Auditorium / 0870 060 2331 (May 15) Dundee, Caird Hall / 01382 434 940 (16) Glasgow, Barrowlands / 0870 169 0100 (17) Newcastle, Academy / 0870 771 2000 (21) Manchester, Apollo / 0870 401 8000 (22) Bournemouth, International Centre / 0870 111 3000 (23) Birmingham, Academy / 0870 771 2000 (25) Plymouth, Pavilions / 0845 146 1460 (26) Reading, The Hexagon / 0118 960 6060 (27) London, Hammersmith Apollo/ 020 7403 3331 (29) Thetford Forest, Suffolk (June 8) Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent (10) Dalby Forest, North York Moors (23) Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire (29) Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire (30) Tickets for all dates are priced £ 24.50 and are available from today. To hear sneak previews of new Travis tracks - click here for the band's MySpace page

Scottish rock band Travis have announced a ten-date tour of the UK for May and June, their first full tour since 2004.

They play a handful of now sold-out dates in London, Glasgow and Warrington in March, and the new dates will kick off in Grimsby on May 15.

Just prior to the tour, the band will release their highly awaited fifth studio album “The Boy With No Name” on March 7.

Produced by longterm collaborator Nigel Godrich, the album is darker and more rounded than previous LPs. These UK shows will see the premiere of this new material live.

A track, “Big Chair” was exclusively played on Radio by guest presenter, Chris Martin from Coldplay.

Martin introduced the new track by saying, “We’re gonna finish with an incredible exclusive, we’re very privileged to play it, it’s a new song by the band Travis, the band that invented my band and lots of others.”

You can catch Travis at the following venues, they also play a set of five forest shows in June, as part of the Forestry Commission’s special Summer concerts:

Grimsby, Auditorium / 0870 060 2331 (May 15)

Dundee, Caird Hall / 01382 434 940 (16)

Glasgow, Barrowlands / 0870 169 0100 (17)

Newcastle, Academy / 0870 771 2000 (21)

Manchester, Apollo / 0870 401 8000 (22)

Bournemouth, International Centre / 0870 111 3000 (23)

Birmingham, Academy / 0870 771 2000 (25)

Plymouth, Pavilions / 0845 146 1460 (26)

Reading, The Hexagon / 0118 960 6060 (27)

London, Hammersmith Apollo/ 020 7403 3331 (29)

Thetford Forest, Suffolk (June 8)

Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent (10)

Dalby Forest, North York Moors (23)

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire (29)

Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire (30)

Tickets for all dates are priced £ 24.50 and are available from today.

To hear sneak previews of new Travis tracks – click here for the band’s MySpace page

Meet Hot Fuzz Stars Tomorrow

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Meet Hot Fuzz Stars Tomorrow

Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will be making an in-store appearance in London's Piccadilly tomorrow (February 28). The film has been a huge Brit Flick success, already grossing £10 million - the biggest opening box office of 2007 so far. The soundtrack is as cool as the film; including an exclusive version of T-Rex's "Solid Gold Easy Action" by BRIT award winners, The Fratellis. Other artists heard in the film scored by David Arnold include Adam Ant, The Kinks and Jon Spencer. Pegg and Frost will be signing copies of the film soundtrack at Piccadilly's Virgin Megastore between 6 and 7 pm. Join the 'Fuzz' here - win prizes!

Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will be making an in-store appearance in London’s Piccadilly tomorrow (February 28).

The film has been a huge Brit Flick success, already grossing £10 million – the biggest opening box office of 2007 so far.

The soundtrack is as cool as the film; including an exclusive version of T-Rex’s “Solid Gold Easy Action” by BRIT award winners, The Fratellis.

Other artists heard in the film scored by David Arnold include Adam Ant, The Kinks and Jon Spencer.

Pegg and Frost will be signing copies of the film soundtrack at Piccadilly’s Virgin Megastore between 6 and 7 pm.

Join the ‘Fuzz’ here – win prizes!

Comets On Fire Announce One Off UK show

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Comets On Fire Announce One Off UK show

San Francisco psych-rockers and Uncut favourites Comets On Fire are to bring their five-man show to London in May. The show at London's Scala venue on May 29 will give fans another chance to hear Ethan Miller and co play tracks from current acclaimed album "Avatar." Described in Uncut as “46 minutes of synapse-frying, virtuoso intensity” Comets' fourth album saw them labelled the acid kings of a psych-rock scene that includes Citay, Black Mountain and Jackie O-Motherfucker. Tickets for the show are £13.50 and available from the usual outlets. For more cosmic info about Comets - go here for the band's website

San Francisco psych-rockers and Uncut favourites Comets On Fire are to bring their five-man show to London in May.

The show at London’s Scala venue on May 29 will give fans another chance to hear Ethan Miller and co play tracks from current acclaimed album “Avatar.”

Described in Uncut as “46 minutes of synapse-frying, virtuoso intensity” Comets’ fourth album saw them labelled the acid kings of a psych-rock scene that includes Citay, Black Mountain and Jackie O-Motherfucker.

Tickets for the show are £13.50 and available from the usual outlets.

For more cosmic info about Comets – go here for the band’s website

The Neon Bible

John Mulvey
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I suspect few records released in 2007 are going to provoke as much argument as this second Arcade Fire album, "Neon Bible". A week before the official release date, you can already feel it coming, as inexorable as the tidal waves and imprecations of doom that fill Win Butler's lyrics. Many people who loved "Funeral" seem to be finding "Neon Bible" a bit of a disappointment. In the new issue of Uncut, out this week, Allan Jones makes a persuasive case for "Neon Bible" being a flawed, intermittently brilliant follow-up, where the personal tragedies that informed "Funeral" have been replaced with a nebulous, and less engaging, sense of global meltdown. You get the impression, too, that a bunch of old fans are snooty about how the Arcade Fire are suddenly enormous, a frighteningly popular stadium rock band where once there was an approachable indie group – albeit one with unashamedly big ideas. For what it's worth, I thought "Funeral" was fractionally overrated. Hugely impressive, but the relentless intensity of it all was just too over-wrought for me to play often. Live, of course, that same intensity worked in the band's favour. "Neon Bible" is undeniably clunky in places; surely, the trope of using Christian revivalist imagery as a means to get a secular message across is a bit played out now? But in general, "Neon Bible" feels more musically nuanced, and better paced. The grandiose melodramatic moments are now given more context, and there's more range to these songs. We know the Arcade Fire can do the heroic euphoria-in-the-face-of-the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse tunes, and the revamped version of "No Cars Go" and "Intervention" are as good as they come. Today, though, I'm taken with the stealthier corners of "Neon Bible": the "Killing Moon" swirl of "Black Mirror"; Regine Chassagne's arty, awkward half of "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations"; and, especially, "Ocean Of Noise", which reminds me of subdued and neglected parts of the Pixies catalogue – like "Ana", maybe – before it reaches a stirring Mariachi finale. It's stuff like this that’ll keep me coming back to this fine record. . . Which you can hear right now, incidentally, streaming over at NME. Let me know what you think.

I suspect few records released in 2007 are going to provoke as much argument as this second Arcade Fire album, “Neon Bible”. A week before the official release date, you can already feel it coming, as inexorable as the tidal waves and imprecations of doom that fill Win Butler‘s lyrics.

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Further Nightmares Etc

John Mulvey
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Thanks for all your comments on the Arctic Monkeys blog. Hopefully, I should have my own copy of the album in a few weeks, and I'll post something more considered than last week's effort once I've listened to it more than once. In the meantime, I figured I should allay one or two fears. Someone called John left a comment saying, "Klaxons album is full of ugly acid noises, I hope this one is not." It isn't, John, don't worry. There are some discreet keyboard atmospherics here and there, but the comparison with The Klaxons was more to do with the bright, angular energy which I think James Ford has highlighted in his production of both bands. I see something scribbled in my notes vaguely comparing "Brianstorm" to "Atlantis To Interzone", but it's a small detail. Anyway, Uncut is sent around 800 CDs a month, and it's my job to preview the best ones every day here at Wild Mercury Sound. Any thoughts, recommendations and questions are welcome. All being well, I'll post something about the new Arcade Fire album later day. See you later.

Thanks for all your comments on the Arctic Monkeys blog. Hopefully, I should have my own copy of the album in a few weeks, and I’ll post something more considered than last week’s effort once I’ve listened to it more than once. In the meantime, I figured I should allay one or two fears.

Continue

Hold Steady Hold Music Video Comp

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Hold Steady Hold Music Video Comp

US rock band The Hold Steady are inviting budding filmakers to make a music video for them. They want fans to create a video clip for any of the tracks on their latest, highly acclaimed album "Boys And Girls In America" and the prizes are great! Grand prize is $1000 plus the chance to have your video screened on US TV station Fuse TV. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning prizes that also include Hold Steady merchandise, iPod shuffles and eMusic memebreship- is upload your own "Boys And Girls In America" video to their website. The Hold Steady are currently on tour in Europe - their last show in the UK for the timebeing is on Monday (February 26) supporting the Kings Of Leon as part of the NME Shockwaves Tour. Two US festival appearences have been confirmed - they play Sasquatch! and Langerado! next month. Click here for the simple video comp rules, prize listing & to enter Check out this video clip for inspiration

US rock band The Hold Steady are inviting budding filmakers to make a music video for them.

They want fans to create a video clip for any of the tracks on their latest, highly acclaimed album “Boys And Girls In America” and the prizes are great!

Grand prize is $1000 plus the chance to have your video screened on US TV station Fuse TV.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning prizes that also include Hold Steady merchandise, iPod shuffles and eMusic memebreship- is upload your own “Boys And Girls In America” video to their website.

The Hold Steady are currently on tour in Europe – their last show in the UK for the timebeing is on Monday (February 26) supporting the Kings Of Leon as part of the NME Shockwaves Tour.

Two US festival appearences have been confirmed – they play Sasquatch! and Langerado! next month.

Click here for the simple video comp rules, prize listing & to enter

Check out this video clip for inspiration

Letters From Iwo Jima

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Letters From Iwo Jima

STARRING KEN WATANABE, KAZUNARI NINOMIYA, TSUYOSHI IHARA PLOT SYNOPSIS General Kuribayashi takes command of the defences of Iwo Jima, a strategically important Pacific island 520 miles south of Tokyo. Aware that the victory is impossible, he orders the men to dig a network of tunnels; he means to fight to the last man, delaying the Americans for as long as possible. Yet many of his officers are outraged: tactical withdrawals are considered dishonourable, they would rather commit seppuku. Several soldiers reflect on their fate over the long, brutal and hopeless battle. *** There's a scene in Flags Of Our Fathers when the US marines hear a series of muffled explosions, then break into one of the enemy tunnels dug into Mount Suribachi. Thy're appalled to find the obliterated corpses of an entire squad of Japanese soldiers, just minutes after they've blown themselves up. Letters From Iwo Jima replays that incident from the perspective of Saigo (pop star Kazunari Ninomiya), an enlisted man who's horrified by his comrades' suicidal zeal, and who makes his escape before the Americans arrive. Saigo is no one's idea of a hero, certainly not his own, but he's the heart and soul of this movie, a grim reverse angle on WWII's bloodiest battle and the militaristic nationalism that decreed there should be no Japanese survivors. Few movie stars have interrogated the nature of heroism as doggedly as Clint Eastwood over the years, but whatever else he may have left to say on the subject, Letters From Iwo Jima could prove to be his masterpiece. Even more monochromatic than Flags..., Letters... resonates with the themes in the earlier film, deepening and darkening our sense of young men wantonly sacrificed in the name of the state. In some ways this is a more straightforward picture, but not to its detriment. Beginning a few months before the US landings, it proceeds in linear fashion as General Kuribayashi (sympathetically played by Ken Watanabe) takes stock of a dire situation. Vastly outnumbered, denied reinforcements and air support (the Imperial Fleet has been decimated some months before), the Japanese have no chance of victory, even as they cling to the myth that the ruthlessly disciplined Japanese soldier is worth ten of his US adversaries. Ironically, his men's readiness to throw away their lives - to embrace death before dishonour - is the biggest hindrance to Kuribayashi's plan to make the Americans fight for the last inch of ground. Either way, Saigo loses. Iris Yamashita's screenplay draws on published correspondence from the general and imagines letters from Saigo to his wife in Tokyo, a device that allows us to understand them as men, not just military pawns (in Kuribayashi's first voice over, he's apologizing for not having seen to the kitchen floor). This is also the key to the film's mood, which hits the same rueful and reflective tone you find in Unforgiven, Bridges of Madison County and Million Dollar Baby... all films about the dying of the light. Directed with simple fluency and grace, Letters from Iwo Jima illuminates a desperately dark historical episode with rare insight and conviction. If Hiroshima is never mentioned, you might discern the shape of things to come in the ashen black sands of this volcanic outcrop. There is no triumphalism here, that famous flag-raising is relegated to the briefest long shot. This is a somber, moving, profound film that insists above all on the value of life itself. Tom Charity

STARRING KEN WATANABE, KAZUNARI NINOMIYA, TSUYOSHI IHARA

PLOT SYNOPSIS

General Kuribayashi takes command of the defences of Iwo Jima, a strategically important Pacific island 520 miles south of Tokyo. Aware that the victory is impossible, he orders the men to dig a network of tunnels; he means to fight to the last man, delaying the Americans for as long as possible. Yet many of his officers are outraged: tactical withdrawals are considered dishonourable, they would rather commit seppuku. Several soldiers reflect on their fate over the long, brutal and hopeless battle.

***

There’s a scene in Flags Of Our Fathers when the US marines hear a series of muffled explosions, then break into one of the enemy tunnels dug into Mount Suribachi. Thy’re appalled to find the obliterated corpses of an entire squad of Japanese soldiers, just minutes after they’ve blown themselves up. Letters From Iwo Jima replays that incident from the perspective of Saigo (pop star Kazunari Ninomiya), an enlisted man who’s horrified by his comrades’ suicidal zeal, and who makes his escape before the Americans arrive. Saigo is no one’s idea of a hero, certainly not his own, but he’s the heart and soul of this movie, a grim reverse angle on WWII’s bloodiest battle and the militaristic nationalism that decreed there should be no Japanese survivors.

Few movie stars have interrogated the nature of heroism as doggedly as Clint Eastwood over the years, but whatever else he may have left to say on the subject, Letters From Iwo Jima could prove to be his masterpiece. Even more monochromatic than Flags…, Letters… resonates with the themes in the earlier film, deepening and darkening our sense of young men wantonly sacrificed in the name of the state.

In some ways this is a more straightforward picture, but not to its detriment. Beginning a few months before the US landings, it proceeds in linear fashion as General Kuribayashi (sympathetically played by Ken Watanabe) takes stock of a dire situation. Vastly outnumbered, denied reinforcements and air support (the Imperial Fleet has been decimated some months before), the Japanese have no chance of victory, even as they cling to the myth that the ruthlessly disciplined Japanese soldier is worth ten of his US adversaries. Ironically, his men’s readiness to throw away their lives – to embrace death before dishonour – is the biggest hindrance to Kuribayashi’s plan to make the Americans fight for the last inch of ground. Either way, Saigo loses.

Iris Yamashita’s screenplay draws on published correspondence from the general and imagines letters from Saigo to his wife in Tokyo, a device that allows us to understand them as men, not just military pawns (in Kuribayashi’s first voice over, he’s apologizing for not having seen to the kitchen floor). This is also the key to the film’s mood, which hits the same rueful and reflective tone you find in Unforgiven, Bridges of Madison County and Million Dollar Baby… all films about the dying of the light.

Directed with simple fluency and grace, Letters from Iwo Jima illuminates a desperately dark historical episode with rare insight and conviction.

If Hiroshima is never mentioned, you might discern the shape of things to come in the ashen black sands of this volcanic outcrop. There is no triumphalism here, that famous flag-raising is relegated to the briefest long shot. This is a somber, moving, profound film that insists above all on the value of life itself.

Tom Charity

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