Sensual Harassment's Alpha Draconis

Sensual Harassment are back with their debut EP. After releasing several singles during this Autumn, they have completed their album EP 'Alpha Draconis' which includes all the previously released singles as well their latest song "Russian Dolls", a post rock crossover between Walkmen and Echo & The Bunnymen. The EP is available both as a stream and free download from their official page. 

Check out www.sensualharassment.com for additional information.

Duran Duran- All You Need is Now- Out

The first single from the upcoming Duran Duran album 'All You Need Is Now' is available on the iTunes Store. The vibrant video for this title track is set for release on iTunes on December 21, 2010. It was shot in and around London and was helmed by celebrated director Nick Egan, whose previous work includes Duran Duran’s "White Lines" and "Ordinary World" videos.

The album (cover artwork below) is out on December 21, 2010.

www.duranduran.com

Blancmange News

Almost 25 years after the release of their last studio album in 1985, Blancmange will retunrn to the music scene with the brand new album which is due to be released on March 7, 2011. The album is called 'Blanc Burn' and it will be supported by a small tour in the UK. The first track from the album is available as a free download here.

Ticket info

Next Wave: Northern Portarit

Northern Portrait is an indie pop group which was formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in the summer of 2007. The band consists of Rune Reholt, Caspar Bock Sørensen, Stefan Larsen, Jesper Bonde and Michael Sørensen. Northern Portrait is a band who’s raison d’être is the making of sophisticated pop music. The band lists a few 80’s bands among the influences including Echo And The Bunnymen and The Housemartins and most important of all, the new celebration of the Smiths.

Their debut album 'Criminal Art Lovers' has been released this year.

www.myspace.com/northernportrait

Joy Division for a new Generation

Rhino Records UK / Warner Music are proud to announce the release of '+ -" (plus minus) - a unique Joy Division retrospective box set consisting of 10 7" singles on vinyl presented in a beautiful clamshell box. All tracks have been newly re-mastered from original tapes by Stephen Morris and Frank Arkwright with creative direction for '+ -" box set artwork coming from Peter Saville and Studio Parris Wakefield.

Compiled by renowned journalist and author Jon Savage, the boxset is released in celebration of Ian Curtis - in the year that is the 30th anniversary of his death. +- includes 7"'s which have previously been issued and some which have been created specifically for this release.

www.rhino.co.uk

Wire- Red Barked Tree

Wire will release a new album entitled 'Red Barked Tree' on January 10, 2010 in the UK and January 11 in the USA with digital version available from 20th December. One track from the album "Two Minutes" is already available as a free download from this website's listen page.

During the first 4 months of 2011 the band will also be on tour playing in 16 countries on 3 continents kicking off with an album launch at The Rough Trade East Store and finishing at a location in North America. Stay tuned for more info or check out www.pinkflag.com.

Lost Videos: Bill Nelson- Do You Dream In Colour?

Yello- The Anthology

Yello have released a re-mastered premium set 'Yello-The Anthology' which contains "The Singles Collection 1980-2010" and 2 CDs 'The Anthology'. Dieter Meier and Boris Blank selected their personal favorites and added 4 exclusive new songs: "Vicious Games" featuring Heidi Happy, "Dialectical Kid", "Liquid Lies 2010" and "Tears Run Dry" featuring Malia. A DVD with 23 visionary Yello videos and a 48 page booklet with rare photographs and personal commentary by Yello are included. 

Check out Yello official for more info.

Instant Hit: Taxi Girl- Cherchez Le Garçon

"Cherchez Le Garçon" was the second single for the French group Taxi Girl which was released in 1980 on the Pathé EMI label. The song combines the energy of the early post punk as well as melodic synth pop soundscapes. The year 1980 also saw the release of their debut album and EP with the same name.

The New Face of Hooverphonic

The Belgian group Hooverphonic has recorded a new album entitled 'The Night Before' which will be released on November 26, 2010. The video for the first single to be taken from the album showcased fourteen possible singers of which one would replace Geike Arnaert who announced that she would leave the band in October 2008. The 22 year old Noémie Wolfs proved to be the real successor of Geike Arnaert and you will enjoy her voice in the fresh new sound of Hooverphonic.

(The image is copyrighted by their respective copyright owners)

Gang Of Four- 13 Date Tour To Support 'Content' Release

Gang of Four have announced the release date of the long awaited album 'Content' which is due out on Janunary 25, 2011. This will be their first studio album in 15 years which will be released through 'Yep Roc Records'. Its release will be supported by with a 13 date North American headlining tour in early-to-mid February opening its trek on February 4 in Toronto.

Gang of Four tour dates:

Feb. 4: Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON Feb. 5: Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA Feb. 7: Paradise, Boston, MA Feb. 8: Webster Hall, New York, NY Feb. 9: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. Feb. 11: Metro, Chicago, IL Feb. 12: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN Feb. 15: Venue, Vancouver, BC Feb. 16: Showbox @ the Market, Seattle, WA Feb. 17: Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR Feb. 19: The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA Feb. 20: House of Blues, Anaheim, CA Feb. 21: Music Box, Los Angeles, CA

http://www.gangoffour.co.uk/2010/11/11/mark-heaney-2010-11-11-103100/

The All New Duran Duran Coming Soon!

Duran Duran will release their 13th album, the Mark Ronson produced 'All You Need Is Now,' digitally this December and in stores in February 2011. Nick Rhodes told 'Spinner', that he's incredibly proud of the new material that this will be the best record they recorded in over two decades. He also added that every track will be supported by a video and that they will go on tour tour next year.

Chrisma (Krisma)

Krisma (formerly Chrisma) is an Italian group which was formed in 1976 by Maurizio Arcieri and his wife Christina Moser. The group started out as electronic disco outfit in the late 70’s and continued to be the leading group of the Italian New wave, successfully releasing several singles and albums during the 80’s decade.

In the same year as the group was formed in 1976, the couple moved from Milan to London to record "U" and "Amore" with the producer Nico Papathanassiou and his brother Vangelis. Their collaboration with Papathanassiou and Vangelis continued through 1977/78. During this time, the duo released the debut album 'Chinese Restaurant' and their the single "Lola" entered the Top 10.

In 1979 Chrisma released their second album 'Hibernation' which brought them international breakthrough. Subsequently the duo moved to London and was firmly established in the London music scene. They caused  a scandal with the single "Aurora B" because the promotional video for the single showed Christina and Maurizio in simulate sexual acts as well as a suicide in a subway station. In 1980 the band officially changed its name from "Chrisma" to Krisma. Their third album, 'Cathode Mamma' featured Hans Zimmer on synthesizer. The single "Many Kisses" was a big hit in Europe. Around this time Krisma developed the first mini sequencer, known as "Krismino". Krisma left Polygram for CGD in 1981.

The year1982 saw the release of the experimental "Clandestine Anticipation" album. The album dealed with water in all of its forms (liquid, ice, vapor, fog, snow and rain) and was supported by a series of videos filmed in tropical locations. The clips were first shown on Carlo Massarini's Mister Fantasy program.

Krisma released another album with the lead single "Nothing To Do With The Dog" before moving to New York City in 1986. They directed three videos for MTV, and soon after they began to work for France 2. In Italy they often appeared on the program "Be Bop a Lula" hosted by Red Ronnie for Italia Uno. The single "Nothing To Do With the Dog" and "Iceberg" were released during this time. In 1988 "Non Ho Denaro" was released. It was their last album to be released on vinyl, and today, it is one of the most obscure Krisma records.

During the 1990s Krisma's first records were remastered. They continued to do freelance work for the Italian state broadcasting company Rai Tre, and they were credited for crafting the special effects on the Marco Ferreri film Nitrato d'Argento. Maurizio and Christina also designed several video-art installations and worked as consultants for Benetton's Centro Ricerca Comunicazione. On July 22, 1998 the couple launched Krisma TV, which was broadcast through the Skyplex satellite service to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In June 2000 the band opened their website, www.krismatv.net. Maurizio made a comeback attempt with "Re-Birth," a solo project. The CD single Kara was released in 2001 in both Italian and English versions. Their first two albums 'Hibernation' and 'Chinese Restaurant' were reissued this year by 'Medical Records LLC'.


Note:
The reissue is sold out, but the second pressing will be out early January (black 180gm vinyl this time - limited edition of 500 each)
http://medical-records.org/releases/