Features

Inside Features

The Word On... Baaba maal, Television

Friday, 5 June 2009

"Although it boasts a handful of pleasant and even memorable tunes, the overall impression of 'Television' is that Maal is too discreet a presence on his own album. His famously strident vocals are surprisingly subdued and/or mixed down." - Jon Lusk, bbc.co.uk/music

Keyboard Choir - The Electrical Unity Blogs Pt. 5 - Bugs

Friday, 5 June 2009

Part 5 talks about Keyboard Choir's members past and present, the writing process, and the dramatic exit of a former member taking a hammer to his instrument onstage. You can download 'Bugs - live @ last.fm/presents' at last.fm.

Keyboard Choir - The Electrical Unity Blogs Pt. 4 - Transine

Thursday, 4 June 2009

In Part 4 of their Electrical Unity Blog, all five full-time members of the band talk about the track 'Transine' and how it relates to the development of Keyboard Choir's sound. You can download the song at last.fm.

Ronnie Scott's at 50

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

From inauspicious beginnings, Ronnie Scott's has become a world-famous venue. As it celebrates its 50th birthday, Ian Burrell recalls the legends who have graced the West End club

Keyboard Choir - The Electrical Unity Blogs Pt. 3 - Stagger

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

art 3 of Keyboard Choir's Electrical Unity Blogs reveal ideas such as using lightning strike for a drum sound, and how important sonic texture is to the sound of the band. You can download the song at last.fm.

Win ticket's to Mica Paris gig at Ronnie Scott's

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

To celebrate the legendary jazz club's 50th anniversary, The Independent has teamed up with Ronnie Scott’s and the BFI to offer readers a chance two tickets to Mica Paris' concert on Wednesday 10t June at Ronnie Scott's in London.

Keyboard Choir - The Electrical Unity Blogs 2 - Tokyo At Night

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

In the second part of Keyboard Choir's Electrical Unity Blogs, Sebastian recalls some time spent in Tokyo as a young man, and Adrian talks about writing the piece. You can download the song at last.fm.

Keyboard Choir - The Electrical Unity Blogs Pt. 1

Monday, 1 June 2009

Firstly, I'll introduce myself. I'm Seb, I play in Keyboard Choir. We are a group of musicians who make electronic music. We are giving away our new EP, 'Electrical Unity', a track a day this week. You can grab the 1st track from our last.fm page.

Reckless Amy: The greatest songwriter you've never heard of

Sunday, 31 May 2009

'Heroin addicts, ex-cons, married men...' Amy Rigby has always based her darkly funny tales of love-gone-wrong on her own life.

Close-up: Sixto Rodriguez

Sunday, 31 May 2009

Sleeper hit? This singer had to wait more than 30 years for musical justice

The Eighties are back

Friday, 29 May 2009

How would a gig featuring some of its brightest stars go down today? We sent four very different reviewers...

Neil Young: After the gold rush

Friday, 29 May 2009

Andy Gill gives thanks that the first segment of Neil Young's huge retrospective is here at last.

Broken Records - 'We're not expecting to make a living out of this'

Friday, 29 May 2009

It's about time that these modest Scots learnt to take the plaudits, says Elisa Bray

Glastonbury - A festival needs a future

Friday, 29 May 2009

Veterans are top of the bill, but Glastonbury should still be a place for bands on the up, says Nick Hasted

My Fantasy Band - Frankmusik

Friday, 29 May 2009

Vocals - Terry Kath
He was the lead singer in Chicago. Their song "Street Player" is one of my all-time favourite disco dance tunes. He died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Caught In The Net: Some that escape the net...

Friday, 29 May 2009

Attempting to watch music videos on YouTube in the wake of Google's royalties spat with PRS continues to be a crap-shoot. Hitting on a link for Cass McCombs' new single, "Dreams Come True Girl" (tinyurl.com/ow22p3), I found it blocked for UK viewers. However, a black-and-white promo for Tortoise's latest song, "Prepare Your Coffin" (tinyurl.com/rys6eo), played without trouble.

The Friday Playlist

Friday, 29 May 2009

This week's Spotify playlist is compiled by Harriet Walker, a fashion writer at The Independent.

Q&A with Joe Goddard Hot Chip

Friday, 29 May 2009

Hot Chip have teamed up with VICE magazine to find a new up-and-coming creative talent to perform alongside them at Creative Sense5, a cross-disciplinary event to be held at The Arches, London, on 4 June. For more information see http://www.viceland.com/creatingsense5/

Barometer: Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Slum Village; Beth Jeans Houghton; Passion Pit; Free Energy; Tempa T

Friday, 29 May 2009

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Heads Will Roll

Larry Ryan: A word from a Friend

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Friend is the suitably vague moniker for Jesse Kanda, a music producer based in London. Tracks from his own EP "Shima", can be heard at myspace.com/friendddd. The EP is set for release in the coming months and is perfectly timed to soundtrack the summer, with floating vocals mixing with hazy ambient sounds and synths, along with some far-eastern inflections and the odd steel drum or two. I dropped Jesse a line and sent him a few questions. Here's what he had to say for himself.