48MusicWeek 13.07.12
PRODUCTRECOMMENDED ALBUMOF THEWEEK
www.musicweek.com
TRACK OF THEWEEK
The Origin of Love (Island)
MIKA
Following his worldwide smash albumThe BoyWho Knew TooMuch (which debuted in every single iTunes Top 10 around the world), The Origin of Love ismulti platinum-selling popstarMika’s third studio album. Its release will be preceded by new single Celebrate - a slice of cool
modern pop written byMika and PharrellWilliams, produced by Nick Littlemore fromEmpire of the Sun that also features Pharrell on vocals. Mika created this albumover a period of two years and flew around
the world assembling its roll call of collaborators –WilliamOrbit, Benny Benassi, FrYars, GregWells (Katy Perry, Adele) and Klas Ahlund (Robyn’s Body Talk) as well as working with some brand new unsignedmusicians he found himself online. Mika has now sold over 8million records and has gold or platinum
September 16 INCOMING ALBUMS
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB Beacon (Kitsuné) Following their headline slot on February’s NME Awards Tour, Two Door Cinema Club -
Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday - travelled to LA to record their sophomore albumwith acclaimed producer Jacknife Lee (Bloc Party, U2, REM) in his home studios. The result is described as ‘a bold
statement of intent - an ambitious and heartfelt selection of tracks showcasing a stunning depth of songwriting and a broader,maturer sound.’ TDCC’s debut albumTourist History
achieved platinumstatus in the UK and their native Ireland, and sold over 1 million copies worldwide –making them one of the biggest breakthrough bands of the last two years. The band has also been dubbed by
NME as the No.1most exciting band to catch at this summer’s festivals.
SEPTEMBER 3
IAMAMIWHOAMI kin (ToWhomItMay Concern/CooperativeMusic) Internet phenomenon iamamiwhoami are set to release their audiovisual album
on the their own label, ToWhomIt May Concern. The collective consists of singer-
songwriter Jonna Lee, fellow songwriter Claes Björklund who both produced the project, alongside a ‘visual team’. The project, kin, is amusical album
and 45-minute film, the trailer for which can be viewed on their YouTube channel which has amassed 15millions views. A succession of ‘chapters’ have been
uploaded every fortnight since February with the final one, released in June, marking the completion of the album. iamamiwhoami have won a Swedish
Grammy award for Innovator of the Year, bagged nominations for two MTV online music awards in 2011 and the Digital Genius Award this year.
SEPTEMBER 3
BAT FOR LASHES The HauntedMan (Parlophone) Since releasing the universally acclaimed albumTwo Suns in 2009, which has now sold over 250,000
copies, Bat For Lashes/Natasha Khan toured South America with Coldplay, collaborated with Beck to write a song for the Twilight film, Eclipse, headlined two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House and covered DepecheMode’s Strangelove for Gucci’s Guilty campaign. She has released two albums under
the guise of Bat for Lashes. Her 2006 debut was nominated for theMercury Music Prize and earned two Brit Award nominations. Two Suns was alsoMercury and Brit nominated, as well as winning Khan a Best Contemporary Song Ivor Novello for track Daniel. A full UK tour has been announced
for the Autumn, and a summer of festival appearances include Latitude and Bestival.
OCTOBER 15
awards in 32 countries worldwide across his previous two albums Life in CartoonMotion and The BoyWho Knew TooMuch, winning Brit andMTV Awards in the process.
NO DOUBT Settle Down (Polydor)
To kick off their return, American group No Doubt have revealed the artwork for their new single, Settle Down. The track is taken fromtheir
long-awaited album, Push And Shove which is set for release on September 24. It is the band’s first new
albumsince 2001’smulti platinum-selling Rock Steady, which achieved silver status in the UK. Known for previous top 10
September 17
UK hit singles Just A Girl, Don’t Speak and Hey Baby, the band’s latest track will go to radio inmid-July and the Sophie Muller-directed video will follow shortly after.
STAFF PICK: CZARALEE ANDERSON, SALES EXECUTIVE
BROTHER ALI Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color (Rhymesayers Entertainment) Albino born-again-
Muslimrapper Brother Ali is a feast for the eyes and ears. His latest 14-track
LP, produced by Jake One (De La Soul, G- Unit) was created in just twomonths during a self- imposed exile in Seattle after being inspired by his first trip toMecca. Mourning in America and Dreaming
in Color is a raw, colloquial commentary of the rapper’s views on America. Full of expression and emotion, Brother Ali tackles the politics, prejudice and promise of his home country. With the help of Dr. Cornel West, the album is introduced with Letter to
My Countrymen; an eloquent plea to his fellow American. The track exposes what Brother Ali feels needs to change within humanity in a gentle yet effective way, especially in comparison to the hard-hitting title track where Ali lets his emotions loose. There’s a raw desperation in his vocal and he provides a powerful statement wrapped in a truly brilliant track. Other guest artists
on the albuminclude Bun B on Need a
Knot and Def Poetry JamPoet Amir on Gather Round. In conclusion, this LP is an excellent
example of poetry andmusic combined; Brother Ali has a lot in his head, a lot in is heart and a fantastic ability to show us all. AUGUST 21
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