New Order Mojo Special

The February issue of Mojo has New Order on the cover and a 12 page feature inside. The Manchester godfathers of electronic music are back, restored and strengthened, to add another chapter to their grand saga. Ian Harrison speaks to the band and their estranged bassist to find a new vitality charging through the old circuits.

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/

Simple Minds 5x5 Tour

Simple Minds are pleased to announce a very rare and exciting opportunity to see them perform material from their first five albums in February and March 2012. These landmark shows, lasting over two and half hours, will be part of a 16-date European tour beginning in Portugal on 14th February. The band will exclusively play five songs from each of their first five albums including 'New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)' which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year – which were released in a prolific period from 1979 to 1982. These five albums have had a massive cultural impact from the time of their release during the birth of the new wave electro scene in the late 1970;s, through the dance revolution of the 80's and 90's, to the music of the Manic Street Preachers and the recent sound of The Horrors’ Skying album, making them five of the most vital albums of the post-punk period and the last 35 years.

February 
14th Coliseum, Lisbon, Portugal
15th Riviera, Madrid, Spain
16th Razzamatazz, Barcelona, Spain
18th Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
19th Admiralpalast, Berlin, Germany
20th Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
21st Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
23rd Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
24th Birmingham Academy
25th Glasgow Barrowland
27th Casino De Paris, France
28th Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
29th Komplex 457, Zurich, Switzerland
March 
2nd London Roundhouse
3rd Manchester Ritz
4th Olympia Theatre, Dublin

 http://www.simpleminds.com/

Vintage Print: OMD in Smash Hits (1982)

In January 1982, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark were featured on the cover of Smash Hits music magazine. During the same month they also released one of their biggest hit to date "Maid of Orleans". This edition of Smash hit also featured among others an OMD interview.

We Are Watching: The Ropes- Lack of Technology Made Me A Killer

The latest video for the Ropes has been revealed on Youtube. It's the video for the song "Lack of Technology Made Me A Killer" which was released last year as an EP with the same name.

 

Next Wave: Dot Dash

Dot Dash was formed out of the ashes of the punky power pop outfit Julie Ocean. The Washington based group consists of guitarist/singer Terry Banks and bassist Hunter Bennett who were later joined by Enlisting Danny Ingram on drums and Bill Crandall on guitar. The band took its name from a Wire song, but rather than leaning toward Wire's jagged art-damaged punk, Dot Dash bore more similarities to the jangly, mod-inflected sounds of unofficial ringleader Terry Banks' former groups Glo-Worm and the Saturday People. The summer of 2011 saw the release of the band's first full-length endeavor, Spark>Flame>Ember>Ash, a 14-song collection recorded in three afternoons. The album is available via iTunes, eMusic and Amazon.

www.facebook.com/dotdashdc
Album info:
http://thebeautifulmusic.com/?p=1

Instant Hit: 'Lectric Workers- Robot is Systematic

'Lectric Workers were an Italian dance act consisting of Franco Rago, Gigi Farina, X. Monneret. They made their debut with "Robot is Systematic" in 1982. It was their only hit which was released in several different remix versions in 2001. It remained a dance floor classic in the clubs throughout Europe.

Retrovision: Mobiles- Drowning in Berlin

Thirty years ago Mobiles released "Drowning in Berlin" which remained their biggest hit to date. The song entered the UK Charts at #9. Mobiles performed this song on TOTP and the original video version has remained a fixture on MTV to this day.

 

In Conversation: Howard Jones

Howard Jones, one of the true eighties icons and godfathers of modern electronic dance music will embark on a nationwide UK tour on Wednesday 11th April at the O2 Academy Bristol. This will be the first time that Howard will perform his first two studio albums 'Human’s Lib' and 'Dream Into Action' back to back, live in their entirety, on a full-scale nationwide UK tour. In this small interview for Burning Flame, he reveals more information about the upcoming tour, career highlights and further plans in music.

Howard Jones Interview

1.Your recent North American Tour turned out to be very successful. The promoters were hoping for 1500 ticket sales but it turned out to be a complete sell out with 2,750 tickets sold. Did you expect this kind of success?
I know from my point of view, the stage that the gigs were well attended and the audiences were really enthusiastic. We played club type venues mainly with people standing. I think this is a great way to enjoy the show.

2.You will embark on a nationwide 8-date UK tour in April. Do you see yourself performing in your home country as a bigger challenge?
I am very excited about taking the HL, DIA tour around the UK. I love touring in the UK you don't have to fly every day and i have such dedicated fans that make it such a pleasure

3.Where do you think your biggest fan base is located?
 I suppose the U.S. is my biggest fan base.

 4.Two years ago, you performed your first two albums in their entirety. They were also reissued for the first time in Europe. Do you wish you could have re-recorded any of the songs? 
November 2010 was the first performance of the DIA/HL tour which we filmed and recorded. This coincided with licensing my first 5 albums from Warner Bros. which meant we could re-master them and get them sounding as good as possible. I have no regrets about the recordings they were the way I wanted them to be at the time and I'm happy with that.

 5.What kind of songs do you prefer to record and perform these days? More acoustic or electronic style?
 I'm really enjoying the electronic shows at the moment. I did tour acoustically for quite a while which was fun but I am mad for the electronic shows now.

 6.Do you still get pleasure from the music you grew up listening to? If yes why? If no, why not? 
I like music from all ages and genres. I have 1200 songs on my iPod which covers everything from classical choral music to rap. there is something to enjoy and learn from all music.

 7.Do you miss the days of being famous and a pin-up in teen mags? 
No, my ambition was not to be famous but to be able to do the things I loved, which was writing recording and performing music. I am very happy being known by the people who care about my music, and that suits me very well.

 8.Looking back over your career, can you instantly spot highlights?
Live Aid, headlining Madison Square Garden NY, Jamming with Stevie Wonder, me and him for 30 minutes. Recording Hide and Seek at Abbey Road with a 100 piece orchestra, Doing the Grammy's with a band of Tom Dolby, Herbie Hancock , and Stevie Wonder. Spending 2 hours chatting with Steely Dan’s Walter Becker.

 9.Your last album ‘Ordinary Heroes’ was very well received even though it was a not typical Howard Jones record. Do you think of it as an exception or would you like to continue in this direction? 
I was very pleased with O.H. I think the next album will be very electronic, and will have the electronic touring band in mind.

10.Do you have your own favourite kind of music and is it any different to what you play now? 
I am really into choral music I am the musical Director and writer for a choir "The Glorious Life Chorus "which is a Buddhist choir of about 100 people that meets to rehearse once a month.

11.What was the last CD you bought?
 Light and Gold - Eric Whitacre

12.Have you been up to date to what your contemporaries like OMD, Thomas Dolby and Heaven 17 have been up to in music in the previous two years? 
Yes I try to keep up with my contemporaries

 13.Your favourite Kate Bush song?
 Moments of Pleasure

 14.Which band would you like to see reunited or which musician would you like see releasing new material?
 I'd like to see the surviving members of Japan get together, and Scritti. I wish Paul Buchanan of Blue Nile would release some new things.

 15.Which artist, living or dead would you like to duet with?
Paul McCartney

16.Anything else exciting on the horizon of Howard Jones in 2012, any tour dates around Europe?
Japan in February, South Africa, UK tour in April, another trip to the US in the summer and Autumn. Some new recordings starting in March.

 Howard Jones performs the entirety of his albums “Human’s Lib and “Dream Into Action” in the UK during April 2012. Ticket Hotline: 0844 477 2000, www.ticketweb.co.uk. 

Dates include:
O2 Academy Bristol (April 11) 
O2 Academy Sheffield (April 12) 
O2 Academy Liverpool (April 13)
O2 Academy Birmingham (April 14)
O2 Academy Newcastle (April 17)
O2 ABC Glasgow (April 18) 
O2 Academy Bournemouth (April 20)
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (April 21)

 More info: www.howardjones.com

Billy Mackenzie and The Associates Mixtape

Billy Mackenzie was a Scottish singer who teamed up with Alan Rankine in the late 70's to form The Associates. As The Associates they had several hits and released three excellent albums. Alan Rankine left The Associates around 1985 and Billy Mackenzie continued to release under the name The Associates. On 22 January 1997, depression and the death of his mother are believed to have contributed to Mackenzie's suicide. He was 39 years old. He will mostly be remembered for his unique voice which shifted effortlessly from bass blues to falsetto diva posturing. His life was the subject of a biography by Tom Doyle 'The Glamour Chase' released in 1998. This is a very special mixtape starting Billy Mackenzie, his friends and the associates.

WAW: Dirty Beaches- Lord Knows Best

Ever got lost inside the world of Alex Zhang Hungtai aka Dirty Beaches? If not, now is the time! Here is the video for the song "Lord Knows Best" from his album 'Badlands' which was released last year. This video was directed by Zoe Kirk-Gushowaty and features Aja Emma, Ariel Kirk-Gushowaty and Tara Codrington on backing vocals.

DIRTY BEACHES - Lord Knows Best (Official Video) from Brightersummerday on Vimeo.