40 MusicWeek 18.05.12
PRODUCTRECOMMENDED ALBUM OF THE WEEK
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS
ALANIS MORISSETTE Havoc and Bright Lights
(Columbia UK)
Multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist Alanis Morissette is set to release her highly anticipated seventh studio album this summer. Produced by Guy Sigsworth (Björk, Madonna, Seal) and Joe
Chiccarelli (Tori Amos, Elton John, My Morning Jacket, U2) and recorded in Los Angeles, the record marks the songstress’ first release in four years. The lead single, Guardian, will be released on August 26 and hit
radio on July 16. Morissette said of her forthcoming offering: “This record, as always,
is a snapshot of what I currently obsess about, care about, and what strikes me at four in the morning in my most introspective moments. “It is my emotional, psychological, social and philosophical
commentary through song. I can't wait to share it with this fun and funny planet, and to tour, and can't WAIT to have the lively, engaging and challenging conversations that these songs may invite.” Since 1995 Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential
August 27 INCOMING ALBUMS
MARY EPWORTH Dream Life (Hand of Glory/ADA) Mary Epworth’s debut album was recorded during heavy snowfall in Norfolk and Berlin with producer Will
Twynam, then in blazing sunshine in Los Angeles with mixing engineers Thom Monahan (Devendra Banhart, Beechwood Sparks) and Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, These New Puritans) - as a result it is said to have channelled those influences to create ‘a record that harbours both dark corners and moments of blistering, beautiful light’. Single Black Doe has been supported
by 6Music, Radio One and Radio Two and early reviews of the album has garnered ‘one to watch’ accolades from Shindig and Mojo. Single Long Gone will be released on
June 11 as a digital download. Epworth will perform at Liverpool Sound
City, Hop Farm and Bestival amongst her series of forthcoming live dates.
JUNE 18
ELTON VS. PNAU Good Morning To The Night (Mercury) Australian electronic music duo Pnau are already known for their side-project
Empire Of The Sun. Elton John signed the pair after
listening to their record, and now with his blessing, a selection of his old masters will be re-imagined into an album featuring their recreations of his classic songs between 1970 and 1976. The lead, title track, to be released
June 25, initially aired on Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 show in March and as a result has been hotly-tipped. Some of the songs on the album draw
from as many as six different early Elton tracks and feature added loops, samples and Pnau’s own material, creating a new style of music reinterpretation. Popjustice commented: “We would like
‘Good Morning To The Night’ to be Number 1 for three million years.”
JULY 2
MACY GRAY Covered (Island) Grammy award- winning, 15 million album-selling singer- songwriter Macy Gray returns to
present new album Covered - a collection of all-new recordings of songs handpicked and reinterpreted in her own inimitable fashion. Produced by Hal Willner (Lou Reed,
Metallica), the album tackles material largely drawn from the indie scene of the last decade - interpretations Gray’s fans will be familiar with as she’s been performing them live over the years. Featured tracks include covers of
Arcade Fire, My Chemical Romance, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Radiohead songs as well as short skits featuring J.B. Smoove, Nicole Scherzinger and a guest appearance by Idris Elba. To coincide with the release of the
album Gray will play two sell-out nights at London’s Jazz Café on June 27-28.
JUNE 26
singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music, with sales of over 60 million albums worldwide.
July 9
Power and Control (679/Atlantic)
Her album Electra Heart went straight to No. 1 and single Primadonna hit No. 11 on The Official UK Chart - and now Marina ‘and the Diamonds’ Diamandis will follow up with single Power and Control, produced by Steve Angello from Swedish House Mafia. With ‘intellectual but witty’
lyrics about the pains of romance backed by eerily fun electro synths, it could be seen as the perfect track to showcase the Electra Heart album - an honest story of identity, love, rejection, doomed romance and hope, all tinged with humour and British eccentricity. Unfortunately Marina had to
postpone her UK tour dates due to illness - but she will still be joining Coldplay for five months on their US and European tour as the main support act.
STAFF PICK: DANIEL GUMBLE, EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
LEE RANALDO Between The Times And The Tides (Matador Records) Having plied his
trade for more than 30 years with one of the world’s most notorious noise merchants, it’s a surprise to hear that the usual combination of frenetic dissonance and lo-fi meanderings associated with Lee Ranaldo have been left at the door in favour of more melodic approach with his latest solo offering. As one of the finest exponents in the
art of noise rock, Ranaldo maintains the sonic qualities that have been such a vital component to Sonic Youth’s sound over the years, whilst offsetting the abrasiveness with a melodic air
seldom heard in his previous works. While at no point are the lines of his
sonic identity blurred on BTTATT, there are certainly a few nods to a host of outside influences throughout. The ghost of REM looms over much of the album, with a number of tracks boasting Michael Stipe-esque melodies and arpeggiated guitar lines. Particularly on the superb album closer Tomorrow Never Comes, which proudly showcases Ranaldo’s capabilities as a
songsmith when taking the lead. The shimmering beauty of Stranded
offers up shades of Neil Young and early Rolling Stones. With the future of Sonic Youth still
hanging in the balance, we can only hope that there’ll be more where this came from.
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