David Bowie's Retrospective Art Exhibition to Open in London Next Year

The Victoria and Albert museum have announced the opening dates of the first international retrospective David Bowie exhibition entitled "David Bowie is" The exhibition will feature handwritten lyrics, original costumes and set designs alongside the 65-year-old star's own instruments.The V&A said it would explore Bowie as a musical innovator and cultural icon. More than 60 stage costumes will be on display, including original Ziggy Stardust bodysuits from 1972 and outfits designed for his Aladdin Sane and Thin White Duke characters. Bowie distanced himself from the show and added that he will not participate in any decisions relating to the exhibition. 'David Bowie Is' is due to open early next year from March 23rd to July 28th. 

Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts

Next Wave: Ice Choir

A Brooklyn based musician Kurt Feldman, originally a member of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, has a new band project called Ice Choir. Ice Choir's smooth and glossy retro synth-pop reminds of Scritti Politti, late OMD and even Johnny Hates Jazz. Just close your eyes to their music and you will dream of 1985.  

Ice Choir is from Brooklyn, it was formed in 2010 and consists of Kurt Feldman, Raphael Radna, Avery Brooks and Patrick South. Their debut album 'Afar' was released on July 31st and it is available on CD and LP.

More info here:
www.icechoir.com
http://www.facebook.com/theicechoir
 

Wired for Sound- The New Book About 80's Music Childhood

This summer Simon & Schuster Ltd have released 'Wired for Sound' by Tom Bromley who is know for his mixture of fiction and non-fiction, mainly with a pop culture slant. 

'Wired For Sound' chronicles the rise and fall of eighties music, from the Band Aid highs of Duran Duran, Wham! and U2 to the Band Aid II lows of Bros, Jason Donovan and Wet Wet Wet. In loving detail, it explores the themes that defined the charts of the time: from music videos to VW badges, synthesisers to stadium rock and from Radio One to Frankie saying "Relax". 

Tom Bromley captures, too, the experiences of the small town boys and girls who grew up listening to the music: a generation of 'Smash Hits' readers and Sony Walkman owners, 'Top of the Pops' viewers and C90 cassette compilers. Evoking an era when it really mattered who was number one, Wired for Sound is an affectionate celebration of both a musical youth and the decade when young guns really went for it.  

www.tombromley.co.uk
 

Instant Hit: Vogue- Sahara

Vogue was a Los Angeles based group consisting of Aret Michel Madilian, Julie Kubat and Teresa Kubat. They released their only single, a wonderfully synth driven and very atmospheric "Sahara" in 1983. The song was issued as 12" for Aret Records and featured "Shattered Peace" on a B-side. The song appeared on A.A.V.V. Your Silent Face compilation which was released in 2010.  

 

Retrovision: Marquis de Sade- Wanda's Loving Boy

French post punk group Marquis de Sade fronted by singer Philippe Pascal and guitarist Franck Darcel released "Wanda's Loving Boy" in 1981. The song was the last release for the group in the early 80's before they split. The song appeared on their second album 'Rue de Siam', released during the same year.

Out This Week: Wild Nothing- Nocturne

The American dream pop duo Wild Nothing fronted by Jack Tatum have released their second album entitled 'Nocturne' this week. This is a follow up to their debut album 'Gemini' which was released two years ago, both out on Captured tracks. Their latest single 'Paradise' is also out this month. 

Summer Singles Round Up

Summer singles round-up is here! The best single releases from the previous two months lined up.

1.The Irrepressibles- New World

2.The xx- Chained

3.The xx- Angels 

4.Bat For Lashes- Laura 

5.Grizzly Bear- Yet Again

6.Wild Nothing- Paradise

7.Washed Out- A Dedication 

8.Blur- Under The Westway 

9.dEUS- The Soft Fall 

10.Lamb- Butterfly Effect

John Foxx and The Maths to Release 'Evidence'

Following the success of their previous two albums, John Foxx and the Maths have teamed up for yet another electronic experience. Their third album is going to be entitled 'Evidence' and it will include collaborative tracks with The Soft Moon, Xeno & Oaklander, Gazelle Twin, Matthew Dear and Tara Busch. The album release is announced for September 10th. More info via Metamatic.

http://www.metamatic.com
 

Zaine Griff Reissues

Zaine Griff's first two studio albums 'Ashed and Diamonds' and 'Figvres' have been reissued for the first time by Amplifier. The Auckland born singer who formed part of the English New wave scene and who was under a strong influence of David Bowie released these albums in the early 80's. 

His debut album 'Ashes and Diamonds' was produced by Tony Visconti, famous for his work with David Bowie. They met and re-recorded three songs with Zaine Griff's band. The album was issued in 1980 and featured the singles "Ashes and Diamonds" and "Run". Zaine's second album 'Figvres' was released two years later, in 1982 by Polydor. It was produced by Hans Zimmer and featured a great line-up of artist who collaborated on it including Warren Can, Yukihiro Takahashi and Kate Bush. The album featured the singles "Figvres" and "Flowers" the wonderful duet with Kate Bush. 

Zaine has released his third album 'Child Who Wants The Moon' in 2011 and currently, he is working on his fourth album which is expected to be released in winter 2012. 

http://www.zainegriff.co.uk/home.html 

Retrovision: Duran Duran- Save a Prayer

Duran Duran released their sixth single "Save A Prayer" thirty years ago. The song was the third single from the band's second album 'Rio'. It became Duran Duran's biggest hit to date Singles Chart reaching #2. The video was filmed by director Russell Mulcahy among the jungles, beaches, and temples of Sri Lanka in April 1982. Scenes were filmed atop the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, among the ruins of a Buddhist temple at Polonnaruwa and the island's southern coastline. 

Steve Strange and Samantha Fox to Get "Dirty and Flirty" in a New Song

Steve Strange who has recently made a return to the music scene with his new band project Detroit Starrzz has announced on his Twitter page that he has been working on a new song with the 80's star Samantha Fox. The new song will be entitled "Dirty and Flirty" and that is all the news we got for now. Stay tune for more info or follow Steve directly on Twitter to get the latest updates. 

Next Wave: The Phone

The Phone is a retro-analogue synth project by Jonni Mogul and Steve Lippert paying homage to some of the old heroes namely Soft Cell, Kraftwerk and the likes but with a rather unique sound in the end. Their music is minimal synth-wave with Casio VL-1 sounds, rhythms and samples. To this date, they have released two singles on Attractive, “Discreet Affair” and a powerful uptempo dancefloor filler "Cabaret Noire" which features Sharon Abbout from Poeme Electronique on vocals. Their debut album is called 'Songs From This Nuclear Age' and it is out on August 20th via Attractive. 

 http://www.facebook.com/phone

New Detachments EP Coming This September

Detachments are back with a brand new EP entitled 'Fade' which is going to be Haçienda Records’ first release of the Autumn. This will be the band’s first new material since their self titled debut album in 2010. 'Fade' will officially be out on September 3rd on Haçienda Records before hitting all the major stores and download sites. The “Fade” EP mixes Detachment’s trademark style across indie and electronic veins, taking in an early Eighties, post punk, coldwave sound and matching this to song craft and a poised, nonchalant sense of hip and classic production. 

 http://www.fac51thehacienda.com