NEWS: Vainzine to be feaured on the first ever Now Playing 2012 Blog Preview on BBC 6 Music TONIGHT!!!

Tonight is the first ever Now Playing 2012 Blog Preview on BBC 6 Music. We were asked to contribute to the show a few weeks ago and it looks like we made the cut, although nothing is ever guarenteed in this life, I've seen the contributor tracklisting and it looks hot and includes our tip for the bigness in 2012.

I won't tell you what the tracks are becuase that will spoil the surprise for tonight but here is a few of the other blogs that have contributed:

A New Band A Day, Dummy, 4Clubbers, Muso’s Guide, Drunken Werewolf & Music Liberation, Strikes Spark Anywhere, Fear of Fiction, Details of My Life, Oh Deary Me, Faded Glamour, Beats and Beyond, Dalston Oxfam Shop, We Are Pop Slags, God is in the TV Zine, Cougar Microbes

The show starts at 7pm GMT tonight (Friday 30 December 2011) and will also feature contributions from the presenter Tom Robinson, and 6 Music listeners.

Live tweeting will be on during the show, and they will be Tweeting all of the tracks as they come out.

Get involved and join the tweetversation tonight by using the hashtag #6music2012.

VIDEO: Justice Cover Comp Best Of

Justice are running a great competition. All you have to do is create your own video cover of a track from 'Audio, Video, Disco.' and the winners get to come celebrate New Year's Eve in Australia and see their first new show.

Upload your own video cover on their channel: www.youtube.com/etjusticepourtous/

Be quick as the contest deadline is 12 December 2011. Here's a selection of some of the best ones so far, but you can see them all on the youtube page.

MUSIC NEWS: Don't Blame It On The Boogie - Conrad Murray Found Guilty

Dr Conrad Murray was today found GUILTY of murder in the Michael Jackson trial. The Jackson family will not doubt be pleased with this outcome. A scream was heard during the verdict.

MUSIC NEWS: Movement Torino Music Festival starts today!

There may still be hope for Europe yet. Hope in the achingly cool form of an electronic music festival of epic proportions between October 27th - 31st. For the sixth year running, the Movement Torino Music Festival in Turin, Italy promises to be an all encompassing electronica experience not only in music, but art as well. It's not too dissimilar from its American counterpart, the cult Detroit Electronic Music Festival; with the European baby having its first festival to celebrate the closing of the 2006 Winter Olympics (they often hold parts of the festival in Olympic arenas) it has eerily taken place the week before Halloween ever since. It's drawn comparisons to the electronic musical hubs of Detroit, Berlin, Amsterdam Ibiza and Tokyo, so it's pretty legit. The line up hail electronic favourites from all over the globe such as Berlin's Steffi, Amsterdam's Shindoe and even Detroit's Lil' Lous, the undisputed Godfather of House music.

It's a vast 5 day event with an array of artists; Thursday 27th starts of with acts such as Ireland's Space Dimensions Controller, it's getting all experimental on Friday 28th at the Conservatory of Tourino, the Circoloco Party on Saturday 29th has given the Ibiza stamp of approval, so it's a sure bet to be good. The hotly anticipated Superga Day on Sunday 30th's featuring Lil' Lous and finally Halloween's Monday 31st closing act of the Movment at the grand Paloulimpco. For more info Click Here.

Eriin Dhesi

DOWNLOAD: Twin Sister 'Bad Street'

Twin Sister announced today that their debut album 'In Heaven' will be available on CD, LP and via digital download on September 27th, 2011. The band are also giving a track from said album away as a free download.

DOWNLOAD: Twin Sister 'Bad Street'

Twin Sister - Bad Street by DominoRecordCo

MUSIC NEWS: Cash In On Kaiser Chiefs New Album!

The latest marketing gimmick from the music industry is rather creative, in every sense of the word. Kaiser Chiefs are offering you the punter a cut of the profits if you come up with a design for their new album, entitled 'The Future Is Medieval', cover.  Click Here to see some other peeps attempts so far.

Not only that but you get to select 10 songs out of 20 so you can create your own unique version of the album. Check out the video below or visit KaiserChiefs.com for more info.

MUSIC NEWS: Lenny Kravitz has a Rock 'n' Roll Daughter in Californication

Do you watch the hit TV show Californication? You know the one starring David Duchovny who plays Hank Moody. Well in Season 4 Hank's moody (sorry) teenage daughter Becca hooks up with a grunge girl band called Queens Of Dogtown. And yep you guessed it, the lead singer is none other than Lenny Kravitz' daughter Zoe, pictured (Pearl on the show).

The "band" did a great cover of Alice in Chains 'Would' which you can check out in the video below. The track is featured on the official soundtrack if you want to pick it up. Also check out the cover they did of 'Plush' by Stone Temple Pilots. Unfortunately this one didn't make the OST. Zoe has got a great voice and we are loving the quality covers. Great to see the introduction of a TV band into a show that actually has talent. Props to that.

Queens of Dogtown - Plush

Queens of Dogtown - Would

MUSIC NEWS: David Lynch to Direct Live Webcast Featuring Duran Duran

Acclaimed director David Lynch gears up to direct a live online concert with legendary pop icons Duran Duran.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to experiment with the band, Duran Duran, at the Mayan Theater on March 23rd,” said filmmaker David Lynch. “The idea is to try and create on the fly, layers of images permeating Duran Duran on the stage. A world of experimentation and hopefully some happy accidents.”

Speaking from a rehearsal studio in London where they are preparing for the ‘Unstaged’ show, lead singer Simon Le Bon said: “We are all beyond delighted that David Lynch has agreed to direct this show for us. It’s a dream come true quite frankly. We are all such fans of his work and think he has a creative vision like no other. In talking to him about what he is planning, we all believe this live-streamed performance is going to look nothing like anyone has ever seen before. We can’t wait.” Tune in March 23 at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT to watch this landmark performance. CLICK HERE to be taken to the YouTube Page.

VIDEO: Rihanna 'S&M'

Was not a massive fan of Rihanna until the latest music video was released a couple of weeks ago. 'S&M' is her best video to date and possibly best 'song'.

Her Kudos went up another notch this morning with the news that she is being sued by by prominent U.S. fashion photographer David LaChapelle. LaChapelle said Rihanna's video copied the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting" of his work. Click Here for more on this story.

MUSIC NEWS: People Get Real 'EP001' out 7 February on Join Our Club

The New People Get Real EP 'EP001' is out February 7 on Join Our Club (er, didn't we already say all that in the title?). Anyway it is smoking hot and my personal fave has to be the aptly titled 'Deep Breath'. Check it out before you buy on soundcloud, just Click Here. People Get Real also DJ regularly in the UK so don't forget to check out their Facebook Page for details of when you can catch them spinning live next.

MUSIC NEWS: Desire Records bring back the old school in cassette form!

Have you heard of Desire Records? Have you heard of cassettes? How old are you anyway? Yeah like I am just about old enough to remember them - ok, ok I am DEFINETELY old enough, I used them goddammit, for a long time during my childhood in the late 80's early 90's before switching to Minidisc (there's a thought when will they be making a comeback?). 

Anyway, I digress, I just though I'd let you know that Cassettes are still in use people, and there are even labels that are producing brand new music (great underground independent music!) that is available on cassette only. I mean this is exclusive shit you guys so dig out your old walkman and head on over to Desire Records to pick up a copy of one of the following;

//TENSE//

Memory+

dsr003T

limited edition cassette - 75 copies only - C90

This very limited edition cassette (pro-dubbed, 75 copies only), called Memory+, contains the full album on the A side and 7 exclusive and unreleased remixes on the B side by Soft Metals, White Car, T. Grave (Blessure Grave, Soft Kills, Group Hex), Death In Plains, Kris Komakino (Project:Komakino, Opus), NTRSN. Black printed on thick black paper, cream case, white tape.

side A

1 - Work Hard Short Life

2 - Sin Realite

3 - Perpetual Swim

4 - Mine Too

5 - Lost Race

6 - Empty Handed

7 - The Visitor

8 - Lead Head

9 - Living Dream

10 - Rapid Pulse

side B

1 - Work Hard Short Life (White Car Ephemeral Employment Mix)

2 - Sin Realite (DEATH IN PLAINs Remix)

3 - Mine Too (Soft Metals Remix Version 2)

4 - Work Hard Short Life (Don't Do it Remix by T. Grave)

5 - Perpetual Swim (Perpetual Sinking Remix by T. Grave)

6 - Work Hard Short Life (NTRSN Remix)

7 - Sin Realite (Real Sin Remix - Kris Komakino)

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Demontré

Masculin/Féminin

dsr009T

limited edition cassette - 60 copies only - C60

It includes an unreleased and exclusive long track recorded in rehearsal. 60 copies only, pro-dubbed yellow cassette, full color artwork printed on tracing paper!

side A

1 - The Vale Of Health (Part 1)

2 - The Vale Of Health (Part 2)

3 - Brandenburg

4 - Lorenheim

5 - Wholly Communion

6 - White Feather Letter

7 - The Lion King

side B

1 - Fauns

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Dark, No Black volume 1

dsr012T

limited edition - 100 copies only - C50

The artwork is signed by French artist/musician/journalist/blogger Joseph Ghosn aka Discipline, the mix has been done by UK finest Spun Djs. It includes 14 tracks: some from the desire back catalogue and some from forthcoming releases.

side A:

Soft Metals - Hot On The Heels Of Love / //TENSE// - 9am / Project:Komakino - Syndrome (Eros Mix) / Ike Yard - Oshima Cassette / The Present Movement - Emily / Loom 11 - Artifacts / Kasms - Ode To Millers

side B:

Televised Crimewave - Hotel America / Ike Yard - Robot Steppes / deathday party - Cold Room (demo version) / //TENSE// - Versus Man (remix) / deathday party - Chaos Reigns (demo version) / Der Ventilator - Waves / Demontré - Brandenburg

If you want to hear more from Desire and want to use the internet to listen then head on over to the Desire page on Official.fm or their blogspot page.

MUSIC NEWS: Midlake to do next LateNightTales!

After a decade of compilations by the likes of Groove Armada, Belle & Sebastian, Cinematic Orchestra, Air and Arctic Monkeys, vintage rock band Midlake add their edition to the mix due for release on 4 April 2011.

Tracklist:

01 Bob Carpenter - Silent Passage

02 Bread Love & Dreams - Time’s The Thief

03 Fairport Convention - Genesis Hall

04 Steeleye Span - The Blacksmith

05 Lazarus - Warmth Of Your Eyes

06 Comus - Diana

07 Jimmie Spheeris - Esmaria

08 Scott Walker - Copenhagen

09 Midlake - Am I Going Insane (Exclusive Black Sabbath Cover Version)

10 Bjork - Unravel

11 Beach House - Silver Soul

12 Sandy Denny - Carnival

13 The Flying Burrito Brothers - Christine’s Tune

14 Jan Duindam - Happiness & Tears

15 Twice As Much And Vashti - Coldest Night Of The Year

16 Nico - These Days

17 The Band-  Whispering Pines

18 Rodriguez - Crucify Your Mind

19 Will Self - The Happy Detective Part. 4 (Exclusive Spoken Word Piece)

Hopefully we will be getting in on the action early and will be able to bring you a review. We'll keep you updated...

VIDEO: Grand Central 'My Star'

Check out Grand Central's new music video 'My Star'. Grand Central also have some exciting news for you too. Grand Central are pleased to announce they have signed with SLR/WEA Records. SLR is an affiliate of Warner/Elektra/Atlantic Records.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with David and SLR/WEA” singer Cade Hannan said. “David (President of SLR Records, David Lasalle Gabriel) has worked with the best, and for a British band to have someone like him working with us, is quite exciting”.

DOWNLOAD: Florrie 'Introduction' EP Available to download for free now!

That's right, Florrie's first EP is available to download in it's entirety gratis right now! Just head on over to Florrie.com to get your digital copy for free or click on the direct link below!

The EP will also be available as a ltd 12" from shop.Florrie.com and to download from I-tunes store on 15th November.

DOWNLOAD: Florrie EP Available to download for free now!

VIDEO: Florrie 'Give me Your Love' + EP release date news

Check out the cool new video for Florrie's wicked 'Give Me Your Love' shot in the style of a live performance. Head over to her website and pick up the track for free now. Major news too is that her new EP will be released this Wednesday 10th November and will also be available free from her website!

MUSIC NEWS: Florrie "Why I Haven't Signed'

Florrie has been a busy bee recently and in response to the mounting speculation on why she has yet to sign to a major label she has shed light on the matter in a statement to her fans on her website today.

Rather than give it away just Click Here to read the full story.

Photo: Paul Scala

VIDEO: Daft Punk make first appearance in 3 years w/ Phoenix @ Madison Square Garden

Aaah this is awesome - one of the best videos you will see completely capture the moment and it's almost like being there as they make a surprise appearance half way through Phoenix's rendition of 'If I Ever Feel Better' and drop 'Harder Faster Better Stronger' over it!

They helped Phoenix close their set with “1901″ which you can see in the bottom video but watch the top one first it's amazing when the crowd realise that Daft Punk have appeared on stage and are about to perform! Thanks to CoS for originally posting this.

9 Year Old Willow Smith does R&B better

Ha ha Will Smith's 9 year old kid Willow is making R&B at a higher standard than most of the rest of R&B 'community'. Check out the high energy video and watch Willow go all Jackson Pollock whipping her hair around covered in paint onto the canvas walls. Great idea. Watch your back Rhianna your days are numbered. You got played by a kid! Maybe Willow should team up with Tatyna Ali for her next single, not.

MUSIC NEWS: Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year revealed

The 12 Albums of the Year shortlisted for the 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, were announced today.

The shortlisted 2010 Albums of the Year are:

Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

Corinne Bailey - Rae The Sea

Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N' Cheek

Foals Total - Life Forever

I Am Kloot - Sky At Night

Kit Downes - Trio Golden

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Paul Weller - Wake Up the Nation

The xx xx

Villagers - Becoming a Jackal

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

The Barclaycard Mercury Prize celebrates the year in music. The shortlist, chosen from an entry of over 200 albums by UK and Irish artists, was announced by Lauren Laverne. The event was hosted by The Hospital Club in Covent Garden, the club for the creative industries.

The overall winner of the 2010 Prize will be decided and announced at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards Show, which will be broadcast live on BBC Two on Tuesday 7 September 2010. Lauren Laverne will present the programme, with the Awards Show event itself hosted by Jools Holland.

MUSIC NEWS: BT Digital Music Awards are back for 2010!

Yes after a surprising and not very well communicated absence last year, the BT Digital Music Awards are back. For a full list of categories and details on how to enter visit the BTDMA's 2010 website. The ever popular People's Choice Awards categories (that we were short-listed as best music blog for in 2008!) is set to return although no details are available as yet. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more.