Out This Week: Light Asylum- Light Asylum

Light Asylum are releasing their self titled debut album this week. The album will be out on May 1st and it is the follow-up to their 2011 EP 'In Tension'. First single from the album "Shallow Tears" was re-recorded and mixed w/ previously unreleased b-side "Genesis". The musical style is a rugged mixture of coldwave, EBM and electro-industrial structured through pop of the toughest sensibilities. The album is out on Mexican Summer.   

 www.lightasylum.com
 

Instant Hit: Fatal Charm- Paris (1981)

"Paris" was the first single for Fatal Charm which was released in 1979. The song was written by the lead singer Paul Arnall who also sang the original version. In 1980, Sarah Simmonds joined the band and a year later "Paris" was re-released. Sarah's voice and Midge Ure production skills gave the record a whole new feel. The record featured "Christine" on a B-side and it was released by Ariola. 

Reissue: Paul Nova- Trees Without Leaves

The German record label Vinyl on Demand (VOD Records) has reissued Paul Nova's debut album "Trees Without Leaves". The albums is considered as one of the Holy Grails of Minimal/Synth/80’s-Cold Wave music and it was originally released in 1984 his own label Exhibit One Records. The reissue also features the singles "Famous Boys" and "Julie-Ann", unreleased tracks as well as demos which were released on the same label. It is out as a limited edition of 500 copies. Click the link for more info.

 www.vinyl-on-demand.com/releases
 

WAW: No Ceremony ///- Heartbreaker

"Heartbreaker" is another track by the enigmatic Manchester based group or artist known by the name No Ceremony /// also NOC ///. The video shows baby dolls glowing in the dark in the play of neon lights. The music is noisy synth-pop electro lost in the shoegaze darkness. 

Duran Duran- A Diamond In The Mind (Live Video)

Duran Duran will release 'A Diamond in the Mind', a stunning live performance filmed at the Men Arena in Manchester on December 16, 2011. This performance combines great music with amazing visuals and iconic style which has been the band’s trademark throughout their career The live set includes new songs from their latest album 'All You Need is Now' as well as classic Duran Duran hits. The release date is set for July. 

www.duranduranmusic.com
 

Reissue: The Chameleons- Script Of The Bridge

The Chameleons seminal debut album Script of the Bridge has been restored and re-mastered for vinyl at Abbey Road Studios, London. The gatefold package contains two heavyweight (180g) vinyl discs and also includes a CD, produced without the use of a 'limiter', which greatly increases the dynamic range of the recordings. 

 The restoration project was undertaken by production team Guy Massey and Steve Rooke, who received a Grammy Award last year for their work on the Beatles Box Set. This is the first time Script has been made available as a 'double album'. By dividing the tracks onto two 12" discs, the sound quality greatly increases with none of the compression that hampered the original vinyl. 

 www.blueapplemusic.co.uk

 

Out This Week: Rufus Wainwright- Out of the Game

Rufus Wainwright will release his seventh studio album this week. The album is entitled 'Out of the Game' and it was produced by Mark Ronson. Songs appearing on the album were influenced by the music of David Bowie, Elton John and Queen. To promote the album, Wainwright will begin touring in late–April 2012. He will perform songs from the album during a six-date European tour including performances in Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Spain. 

Retrovision: Kim Wilde- View From The Bridge (Rare Video)

Thirty years ago Kim Wilde had a hit with "View Form The Bridge". It was the second single to be released from her second album 'Select'. The song was produced by Ricky Wilde and told a story of a girl committing suicide by jumping off a bridge. "View From The Bridge" reached the top ten in Australia and in several European countries including Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Germany. 

Men Without Hats Are Back

Men Without Hats will return with a brand new album next month. This will be their first release in almost ten years and the follow-up to their 2003 record 'No Hats Beyond This Point'. The new album is entitled Love in the Age of War and it is scheduled for release on May 22, 2012. The first single from the album "Head Above Water" was premiered on CHOM-FM Montreal and you can stream the song below. The song starts after a short interview segment. Stay tuned for  more info.

It's The Record Store Day!

The original idea for Record Store Day was conceived by Chris Brown, and was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner as a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally.

This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists  in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances. Metallica officially kicked off Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Francisco on April 19, 2008 and Record Store Day is now celebrated the third Saturday every April.

Here is our selection of some of the fines records released today:

Arcade Fire- Sprawl II Ready to Start

Simple Minds- Theme for Great Cities (Moby Remix)

The Black Angels- Watch Out Boy

Belle And Sebastien- Crash

Beach House- Lazuli

Public Image Ltd- One Drop

Kate Bush- Lake Tahoe

Neon Indian- Hex Girlfriend

School of Seven Bells- Kiss Them for Me

Dirty Beaches/ Xiu Xiu- Tu Ne Dis Rien
Richard Hell and the Voidoids- Blank Generation
O Children- PT Cruiser

The Primitives Return with a New Album

The Primitives will return after 17 years away with a brand new studio album. The album will be called 'Echoes and Rhymes' and it will feature cover songs from semi-obscure bands from the 60s with women lead singers. 'Echoes and Rhymes' is available on pre-order and it will be released on Elefant Records on April 30th.  

The video for the new single "Turn Off The Moon" which is out this month.

Everything But The Girl To Reissue The First Four Albums

The British sophisti pop duo Everything But The Girl will reissue first four albums which were originally released from 1984-1988. The expanded, two-disc editions of Eden (1984), Love Not Money (1985), Baby the Stars Shine Bright (1986) and Idlewild (1988), come repackaged in case bound, book-style packaging with new liner notes from the duo and all original lyrics. It will also feature bonus discs littered with excellent treats for hardcore fans, including single-only A and B-sides. EBTG albums are reissued by Edsel/Demon and will be available from May 28th.  

http://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk

Next Wave: Sylver Tongue

The former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley is back with a new project. Her new moniker is Sylver Tongue, she has dismissed the guitar pop and switched over to the synth department. "Purple Rain" obsessed girl was also inspired by 70s sci-fi movies, psychedelic pop and the prowling grooves of Grace Jones and her warm leatherette. She released the first single "Hook You Up" in January and her next single "Creatures" is announced for May. Both songs were produced by James Rutledge who worked with Everything Everything and Fever Ray.