The Maccabees- Given To The Wild

The Maccabees have released their third album earlier this January. The album is entitled 'Given To The Wild' and it features the hit single "Pelican" which was released in November. The band have said they took inspiration from The Stone Roses, Kate Bush and David Bowie during the recording of the LP. The album has reached #4 in the UK album chats.

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.