|
|
NEWS -WWW.GARAGE-MUSIC.COM
- NOVEMBER- 2003 |
|
Well I'm back. Yes once again late. Late,
late late! I can't say anything to you, except I'm sorry,
and it won't happen again? I can hear you lot sniggering
in the background there. Please stop it! Its
still Autumn over here as well. Just though. The leaves
have all but left the trees over here. Yippee - no more
racking up those dam leaves around my House! But
now its chilly. Burrrrr.......
Well, we will start the Page with a film
review? Yes, a film review that was conducted by Tim
Gibney, London, England for the website
- tim_gibney@hotmail.com
The film in question is called "Interstella
5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem’.
Sounds fascinating doesn't it? Well, I won't spoil your
fun. Read on about directly below - via Tim's own expect
view of it.
FRENCH dance
duo Daft Punk (aka Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel De
Homem Christo) have always
been an imaginative and inventive pair. Their mish-mash
of house beats, electronica and disco has seen them churn
out one damn-catchy hit after another. Now the talented
twosome have put their Midas touch to their first film,
‘Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar
5ystem’.
It’s a dazzling space-age cartoon
adventure made in collaboration with Japanese animation
legend Leiji Matsumoto.
And for the Gallic popsters it represents "one of
our childhood dreams, which has now become a reality".
If you’ve seen the manga-style videos for the singles
off Daft Punk’s 2001
album ‘Discovery’, then you’ll
recognise this highly-watchable sci-fi caper as an extension
of those promos. In fact, the film’s pretty much
a vehicle for that album as it features ‘Digital
Love’, ‘One More Time’, ‘Harder,
Better, Faster, Stronger’ and more or less
the rest of ‘Discovery’.
And though there are tracks featuring
DJ Sneak, Todd Edwards and Romanthony, this is Daft Punk’s
baby, make no mistake.
The story, about
four blue-skinned musicians from another
galaxy kidnapped by an evil music manager who wants to
create the greatest band on Earth, is dialogue-free; the
music does the talking. Now although the plot breaks no
new ground, the film does manage a dig at the artificiality
and pressures of the music business, while the publicity-shy
Daft Punk even have a laugh at their own expense, appearing
as cartoon versions of themselves. Still, it’s not
about the message or the storyline, it’s all about
the music. And if you like
Daft Punk, you’ll love it.
Visually stunning and musically exhilarating,
‘Interstella 5555’ is a thoroughly-enjoyable
21st century sci-fi musical blast. Although
the film is apparently on general release [the DVD is
out on December 1st, 2003], don’t
stake your record collection on this little gem appearing
at a multiplex near you anytime too soon. It’s daft,
it’s punk and if you get the chance, go see. Been
out since the 24th October, 2003 at your local cinema!
Thanks Tim for the review - tim_gibney@hotmail.com
I'm one of those person who loves to
watch movies there and then, and hate it when I miss it
the first time around via Cinema viewing. Lets hope its
still showing around the Uk. If not than I will have to
wait until December, 1st, 2003 to buy my copy, and share
Tim's enthusiasm for this film. Sounds cool doesn't it?
|
| During last month's news
page I did mention to you about the dominance that Rnb/Soul
and HipHop music's was having across the
whole world of dance music at present. Then a couple of
days later ( on 10th Oct, 2003 to be exact) this came out.
Quite chilling really.
(10th
Oct, 2003) - Dotcom Music
For the first time ever this week's U.S. Top 10 is composed
entirely of black artists, nine of which are hip-hop acts.
The number one
song is Beyonce and Sean Paul's 'Baby Boy' with other
artists making history including 50 Cent, P Diddy, Nelly
and newcomers Chingy and YoungBloodz.
'Baby Boy'
is the ninth U.S. number
one single of the year and the eighth of those from an
African American act.
"This is
obviously a landmark week for R&B and hip-hop artists,
and black artists on the charts,"
Billboard writer Rashaun Hall said.
This week's chart
recalls the Billboard Hot 100 of 1968 which was dominated
by Motown acts, 12 of whom had hits in the Top 20 at one
time.
"It's a
huge day in that the singles-sweep makes tangible what
kids all over the world have known for decades: that black
music is the engine that drives American pop,"
Donnell Alexander, author
of Ghetto Celebrity, told Fox News.
Other artists
in the chart include Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z and Ludacris.
|
|
The Dance music industry within the Usa,
is huge. Real Huge. Bigger then we could ever imagine
over here (England). However, due to the sheer size of
that country (Usa). Musical styles that only take a few
weeks to cross right over from one side of the country
to the other here (in England). Will take months,
or even years when applied to the Usa.
I didn't know for instance
that from New York City to Los Anglos, the distance between
each other is close onto 3,000 miles.
Nearly the same distance as it is from London,
England to Rome in Italy!
This is something that we have as an
advantage here in England, and has been achieved the many
Pirate Radio stations that began in the
1960's, and really became strong again in the 1970's ,1980's
and middle 1990's. It is my opinion, that
this style of broadcasting within the Uk, has allowed
us unwittingly, to have more of a listener choice over
the airwaves for dance music then anyother country in
the world today. Yes more styles of dance music's being
delivered over Uk airwaves via the inception of Pirate
Radio. Listening to Radio is a Joy these days, not a chore
if you are after Dance music! And its not just on a "street
or urban level", but on a national scale as well
here in the Uk. Legal radio always wants to keep up with
what happening on the street - and where better to keep
tabs with all this is via keeping a track on what the
Pirate Radio stations are doing! This
is something that I feel we have got right as a nation
(England).
This has meant that more styles of dance
music are now accessible over the legal airwaves, to all
of us, if we care to listen. Secondly, the Pirates have
become so influential, that many of today's legal stations
here in England, have copied the same radio practices
of that Pirate Radio adheres to. Also another factor of
today's Uk legal radio stations is that they have employed
these same pirate radio dj stars to appear on their own
stations! Hoping to give them street cred in the process
for their legal operations.
Please
click on this report below. How Pirate Radio saved dance
music: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2588687.stm
However, its just a shame that legal
Radio stations across the globe still haven't cottoned
onto this music yet. Or have they? Has your city, town
or particular area in the world got a station that is
playing House and Garage
music on a regular basis for you? If so
please let me know? Its always good to hear from you about
this. Please e-mail about and tell me if this is so in
your area of the world. I'd like to built up a picture
on this if so here on this website.
I did manage to ask this question on
this House and Garage music forum called - Global House
- and I did get this quick reply, "Mass
corporate congomoration of radio stations directly tied
to major label marketing funds and pushing of pop, hip
hop artists.
They only
need a few hits, be them hip hop, country, teen rebellion
rock or whatever. They tie it in with their media cross
marketing and its the best they can do, and it still kinda
works, although the product sales are down. Sync licensing
profits because
they owns the damn tv and internet. Its market science
here and thats IT.
No room
for something as complex as the club, mixshow, DJ equation.
Not yet anyway.
Thats the report. Please someone argue with. me"
- Housenatural@aol.com
Do you agree with him? Or you have your
own theories on this subject. As asked above. Please e-mail
me your thoughts and views on this subject here - carl@garage-music.com
and I will print the best replies on this very page!
More news on Radio Stations - Firstly,
the pirate station known as London's House FM and Unknown
FM have now both now launched websites. Housefm.net
and Unknownfm.com are both still under
construction, but there is info about the stations and
their DJs gradually starting to appear. House FM promise
on their site that web streaming is coming soon, so you'll
be able to listen online. For those of us in London,
House FM can be found on 88.6 FM and DJs include Jeremy
Newall, Dominic Spreadlove and Garage City's Clemy Rilley.
Unknown FM can found on 97.1 FM and its line-up includes
Richie Fingers, Lewis Copeland and Trisha McGrady.
Thanks goes out to Tim Gibney for this news!
Where I am based (which is Ipswich, in
England), we have a Community station that will be running
from the 17th November,
to the 14th December, 2003. It is not
a station geared or set-up just for music, but for the
community as whole. So local topics will discussed as
well as the most popular music's of the day as well. Please
note that you will able to listen to the station over
the Internet via clicking on this - http://www.icrfm.co.uk
If you have spare moments please give it a listen. And
see what we get upto down here in Ipswich, Suffolk, England.
I think there's a timetable on the website as well.
|
At this point I would
like to make an interupt my train of thought. I would
like expand on the words uttered by Donnell Alexander.
(Author of Ghetto Celebrity), a little more further.
"It's a
huge day in that the singles-sweep makes tangible what
kids all over the world have known for decades: that black
music is the engine that drives American pop,,"
Donnell Alexander, author of Ghetto Celebrity, told Fox
News.
I wanted to go even deeper than that
with regards to the comments made above. It is how Rnb
and to a lesser extent HipHop Producers as a whole, are
using different musical cultures to expand its appeal
across world music scenes. Rnb( Soul) and Hiphop music
has of late been sampling music that features Indian music.
The most famous being when Busta Rhymes used the
Knightrider Tv theme tuune sample - together with a Indian
music sample - to make the single called - "Fire
it Up". Also when Punjabi Mc
used the same sample of the "Knightrider"
Tv series and same Indian sample - in
his version called - "Mundian To Bach Ke"
that this has a caused many more USA Hip Hop and Rnb Producer
to venture into this music culture. Ie - Timberland
Ft Magoo - 'Indian Flute' (...) .... But also
what has become apparent is heavy use of Jamaican music;
namely Dancehall within the culture as
well.
The man known as Sean Paul (Jamaica),
should need no introductions to you where-ever you are
in the world. He has become flavour of the month at this
moment in time with smash hit releases such as Give
me the Light, Like Glue and Breathe ( With Blu Cantrell).
And it seems that he can do no wrong at the moment. Aided
with the stunning dances that come along with his recent
Dancehall /hiphop video's that have been shown recently.
Have made this combination between Rnb
and Danchall irresistible.
Please click on the link below to see what I mean!
Please
Click here to see the - Sean Paul - Like Gule Video |
| Soulful
House and Garage music fraternity
needs to make sure that it is doing all it can to be given
a fair slice of this musical pie. Listening to many of today's
Rnb/Soul or HipHop music Producers. I'm
impressed by the way that they are willing to take chances
whilst making new tunes. Incorporating new rhythms, new
beats and new musical cultures into their work thus making
their tune/s stand from the rest.
By showing the large Record labels conglomeratess;
and just as important, the Radio stations; that Soulful
House and Garage music can be that imaginative. It will
make it easier for the music to become acceptable to the
general public over the globe. We do already have a big
name House act that already does that. They are the
Masters at Work (Usa). Their ability to
switch the musical script and switch it all around is
legendary! But one must be careful not to loose the Soulful
or melodic slant within the music! The
Soulful vibe is the very life blood of the music.
This did happen before with the inception
of Uk/2-Step Garage music
coming from the Uk of a few years back
- would you believe? Sounds incredulous doesn't it? Using
music elements such as Soul, Disco, Reggae and Funk within
its inception. Producers
of Uk/2-Garage music using their creativity
and imagination, quickly made this form of House the most
talked about fusion in years. But in my opinion where
it all went wrong, was instead of keeping a steady balance
between the darker elements within this combination. It
allowed the music to forget its original blue-print which
was its original soulful and melodic output.
Its was a chance lost for this branch
of House and Garage music,
that really did have all before it.But in its early years,
aided and abetted with the Pirate
Radio set-up in England, here was a music
fusion that should have done better than it did.
House and Garage
music in its many formats
has been for 17 years now. Yes 17 years.
It has survived many trials and tribulations along the
way, in which many critics of the music have predicted
its downfall time and time again. But House and Garage
music is still a fabulous music to listen to. From the
very sophisticated beats of Deep House, to the groovlicious
sounds of Garage music. The beauty of this music is that
there is a musical style for anyone.
Some like their
House mixed with Tribal African beats, while with others
it should include a touch of Techno music, others like
it mixed with Jazz. Some prefer it with the plain and
simple element of Soul music within it. Others like it
to be heavily injected with Funk, others with Reggae or
Gospel music vibes even! There's a style for you here
in this scene. Just seek and you will surely find.
|
| Clubnight
wise at this moment in time
- I have to say that it is looking pretty good at the moment.
There's alot of smaller venues promoting great music. Clubnights
that spring to mind and are within the London and Home Counties
area are - City Loud, Studio
33, Hed Kandi, Faces (Gants Hill), Indulge, etc, etc.
Check these clubnights out, you will be pleasantly surprised.
And of course, how can we forget the Superclubs such as,
the Ministry of Sound and the Fabric
which both of them still manages from them
to produce Soulful House and Garage nights.
Talking about the Ministry
of Sound as we are, they are hosting the
night known as Soul Heaven. And on the 29th November,
2003 - we will once again see the return of Louie Vega
(*from the Masters at Work fame playing there!). Yes this
is official. Louie Vega
will be playing at the Ministry of Sound - on the 29th
November, 2003 - at the club night known as Soul Heaven
(Ministry of Sound, London, England).
What a night that will be. Resident Dj's on the night
will be - Phil Asher (Restless
Soul), Andy Ward (Soul Central), Neil Pierce (House FM)
and Aaron Ross (Radio 1Xtra) This will
be his second visit within just over a year. It looks
like he loves playing here doesn't it?
I have to give a big personal thanks
to a person that never hardly ever gets mentioned, and
who has over the years, put in alot of time and effort
for this music . It may surprise you that the person that
I am going to mention is Nicky
Traxx, based in London, England. Nicky's
running her own Company these days (together
with Jo Pearson), which is a company dedicated
to music promotion and distribution. Nicky has been instrumental
in helping the music of Usa Garage and House play a big
part in the London club scene for over 10 years. Please
check out her website -http://www.phuturetrax.com
- and she if she can help you.
You will have noticed that the Record
Store of this website is down. There have
been major problems with it, so it was in the best interest
that the store gets properly SORTED
OUT once and for all. Should be back up
and running by the DECEMEBER, 2003 AT THE EARLIEST
(But please don't go away for good - it will be sorted
out for you so that you can purchase you House and Garage
tunes from this very website!)
Carrying on about the website - www.garage-music.com
- have any of you listened to the new mixes that are available
from around the world on this page! - http://www.garage-music.com/mixespage2.html
Mixes include Deep House music- Soulful/Funky
UK/2-Step Garage music - Soulful House music - Jazz House
- AND Tradtional Usa Garage music. Please give them a
listen if you haven't yet done so. You will be surprised
how good some of these mixes are..
Maestro, the movie is going to placed
onto DVD format for all of you that have
been asking me this for the last 3 months. It looks like
the release date will be January,
2004. It will be featuring:
Maestro DVD (in development, 2004 release), 4 of 13 extra
segments include:
– David
Mancuso and his discovery of the first record pool
– Tom Moulton & Jose Rodriguez discoverers of
the 12"
– inside Francis Grasso (rare and exclusive insight)
– Audio Hi-fi: inside The Loft sound system 4 of
13 extra segments include:
Got any more questions that you would
like know about this same subject please contact:
Gaia Somasca - Public Relations/Development manager -
gaia@maestro-documentary.com
Anyone likes Blaze?
You know the Soulful House group from New Jersey, Usa?
Well I do. Anyway, here some good news for you about them.
They are about to release a compilation album to be called
- "Celebration - A Soulful House jounery"
which to is be released on Easy STREET, USA during November,
2003.
11 cuts selected and mixed by
Blaze featuring tracks such as "Going through the
motions- Keicha Jenkins", Baby Love - Cassioware,
"Saturdays"- Alexander Hope "In and Out
of my life" - Adeva, "You don't know" -
Serious Intention, etc, etc.... Sounds good doesn't it?
Anyway, that's your lot for me this month.
Sorry I have been late. I will try and be on time for
this month. With more news then we have for this month.
If you have any news snippets that you
wish to be mentioned on this page for the large House
and Garage music community, then please e-mail me - carl@garage-music.com
Please
keep safe. Keep on reading this website - www.garage-music.com
All
RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT © WWW.GARAGE-MUSIC.COM 1996-
|
|
