Vocalist Amy Winehouse and Babyshambles (and formerly the Libertines ) frontman Pete Doherty have announced plans for a duet. Winehouse insisted on penning new songs instead of relying on jazz classics from a famed songbook. “He wanted to do a Billie Holiday cover and I was like ‘no, let’s write something together’,” Amy told NME. “I like writing songs. He’s an amazing songwriter and I’d love to say that I wrote a song with Pete...

" Buzzin' Fly has established itself with a strong sound and roster,” says label boss Ben Watt, "but there is so much other stuff out there. I first made music in the early eighties and I feel we are at a similar point with surges of fresh energy in many genres that deserve exposure." Thusly, Ben signed Danish band, the Figurines to Buzzin' Fly's new alt/indie and electronic pop sister imprint Strange Feeling Records . Why Strange Feeling? "Well, 'Buzzin'...

Our favorite DJ, BBC Radio 1 presenter Gilles Peterson finally launched a proper official website last week. It includes all of the essentials you might expect: gig dates, radio shows, blog, podcast, biography, discography, links to the Brownswood messageboard and label , and contact. The...

Microsoft’s new Zune MP3 player has finally started to take hold of the market despite its perceived obscurity among iPod users and the general public. Zune sales topped Sandisk’s players to become the #2 selling MP3 player, according to a recent report. A few of the device’s strengths like Zune-2-Zune sharing are readily available out of the box, while more features are being added to its arsenal as we write. Alternate firmware from Rockbox, ...

Prolific producer and founding member of Slum Village, J Dilla (R.I.P.) will have a rare EP, entitled Ruff Draft re-released on Stones Throw Records March 6, 2007. Completed around the time of his project with Madlib under the combined moniker Jaylib, the originally vinyl-only EP has become somewhat of a digger’s gem on Dilla’s own Mummy Records. Stones Throw is spicing up the deal with 4 previously unreleased songs that did not fit on the 2003...

In recognition of World AIDS Day, this coming Friday and Saturday (12/1 & 12/2) BAM (The Brooklyn Academy of Music) will hold a special tribute for the most influential and important Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti. His inimitable mix of syncopated James Brown funk, West African percussion, and politically driven lyrics, paired with a “revolution now” mentality, exposed the corruption and hypocrisy of the Nigerian government, transcending his status far beyond music...

Despite a heavy tour schedule in the beginning of the new year with his new group Grinderman , Oz artist Nick Cave will release a double DVD set containing live footage of shows from 2003 and 2004 on Janurary 29th. Aptly titled The Abattoir Blues Tour , the discs feature classic Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds material as well as songs from their most recent album, Abbattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus. The sold-out 2004 Brixton Academy...

L.A.’s Ozomatli will release Don’t Mess With The Dragon March 27th on Concord Records. The album originated from an art installation that the band created in Tropico de Nopal, a gallery of MacArthur Park. "We stayed there for two weeks, writing; each member had a corner of the room, which we decorated ourselves. Visitors came in and each of us got a chance to show how we create music, individually and collectively. That environment gave birth to these...

After announcing his spring 2007 European tour, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem revealed album details for his sophomore release, Sound Of Silver (Capitol). The follow-up to his superb self-titled debut will be released March 20th. Sadly, no US dates have been announced yet, but we'll keep you updated. Tracklist For Sound Of Silver: 1. Get Innocuous 2. Time To Get Away 3....

Sanctuary Group, one of the largest independent music companies and 49% owner of Rough Trade Records is expected to file a financial loss for 2006. The downturn is directly caused by Rough Trade’s $5.4 million loss this year. Sanctuary reported in a press release that it “is undertaking a number of initiatives with regard to Rough Trade to improve its performance, curtail its losses and reduce Sanctuary's future funding obligations to it. Sanctuary is also considering a...