The heaviest thing I’ve heard yet from the Jaxx, but with subtle hints of Rooty at the same time. I hope this is the first of many, with a new tour to boot.
About a month ago I agreed to take part in giffgaff’s blogger calendar, which has been created to raise funds for Cancer Research. As I said to Heather (social media/PR manager extraordinaire at giffgaff) at the time, it’s not like having your photo taken is going to save the world, but in a small way it feels like I’m being a little more active than signing off a direct debit to be taken out of my bank account.
The concept of the calendar is that we’ve all been photographed in locations relevant to our blogs. I loved being able to show off this place for what it’s become. I started out using it as a platform to talk about social change, and it’s evolved to cover much more.
We did the shoot at BM Soho (the refurbished Blackmarket Records on D’Arblay Street). It’s London’s longest running independent dance music record store that specialises in everything from Electro to Drum & Bass and Dubstep. Basically, it’s my idea of heaven.
Established in 1990, BM Soho has been filling the record boxes of the world’s finest DJs and other music industry professionals for nearly two decades. There’s also an online store that updates daily with new releases, so get yourself over to BM-Soho.com to check it out.
The pictures below weren’t chosen for the calendar, but they give you an idea of how amazing the venue was. When I could drag myself away from the walls of vinyl, I had a blast thanks to the wonderful Paul Clarke, who got some great shots out of just an hour-long session.
If you’re a PJ Harvey fan, you might have seen the teaser campaign she’s been running on her website for new release ‘Let England Shake’. Visually the campaign is beautiful, and with a name like that, it peaked my interest from the moment I saw the banner ad on Hype.
She’s been dropping cute photos into the countdown in the form of news nibs (including info about her appearance on Zane Lowe tomorrow night between 7pm – 9pm when he’ll be exclusively playing a new track from the album).
There’s also a sneak preview of the suitably poetic tracklisting, and a shot of some chord changes for one of the songs.
Finally on the 23rd it was confirmed that Let England Shake – her eighth studio album – is set to be released on the 14.02.2011 through Island Records.
Recorded in a 19th Century church in Dorset with long time collaborator Flood (who co-produced the album with PJ Harvey, John Parish and Mick Harvey), the album will be supported by shows in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London’s Troxy on February 27th and 28th. She’s also set to return to the festival scene. I’ve got my money on Glastonbury or The Big Chill, but we’ll see.
PJ is a bit of a musical chameleon, and is well-known for her dislike of repetition. I’ve been a huge fan of her previous electro/rock efforts and have high hopes for the next round. Like a British version of Karen O, she’s got a fire in her belly and the talent instrumentally to produce rich sounds that might have to work a little hard to connect with, but end up falling in love with.
Until tomorrow, here’s a clip of PJ performing the lead track on the Andrew Marr show way back in April.
I’m loving this dubstep remix of Metric’s Front Row by KRUSHA. It’s enough to make a girl want to dance.
The track is an entry into Metric & Indaba Music’s official remix competition. If you like it, vote here. All you have to do is play the song on their website and click on the ‘Like’ button for Facebook.
Hat tip to Why FuKK When You Can Dance for finding it (who also happen to be giving away a free download of the Adam Freeland remix of Metric’s Sick Muse to Hype Machine members).