The coolest woman in the world just quit her day-job. A statement on Pixies’ official Facebook page earlier today announced: [quote] We are sad to say that Kim Deal has decided to leave the Pixies. We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years. Despite her decision to move on, we will always consider her a member of the Pixies, and her place will always be here for her.
PV Nova have made a chronological remix of Daft Punk's monster hit 'Get Lucky'. From crackly 1930s jazz standards and 50s doo wop via 60s psych, 80s synths and modern-day dubstep, they've treated the song to show how it would sound if it'd been released over the last century. It's pretty impressive.
Jon Hopkins has, in my opinion, written one of the finest records of the year so far with 'Immunity', a relentlessly intelligent tour de force of pummelling techno and luscious electronica. You might know his solo work already - 2009's 'Insides' was well-respected - or 'Diamond Mine', the Mercury-nominated album he made with King Creosote. You might've heard his soundtrack to the film Monsters or heard his work with Brian Eno or Coldplay on 'Viva la Vida'. It seems that 'Immunity', though, has broken through to a wider audience.
As festival season kicks off properly this weekend with Isle Of Wight and Download, we're talking road trip songs. Curating a fitting playlist to soundtrack your drive is essential. As well as a car filled with wellies, wine and wotsits, you've got to have some banging tunes that'll get you in the mood. I've got a vivid memory of snaking down the final leafy winding roads of Somerset en route to Glastonbury in 2011 listening to Aphex Twin.
When the Stone Roses were falling to bits on stage at Reading in 1996, those in attendance must have thought there would be no way back for Ian Brown and his cohorts. 45,000 or so souls singing their lungs out to ‘I Am The Resurrection’ at London's Finsbury Park last weekend would beg to differ. The second coming proper (i.e. now) has certainly stoked up anticipation for new material, but it’s remarkable to think the band are held in such high esteem on essentially the strength of one eponymously-titled album.
