Former San Franciscans turned New Yorkers, the Rapture have setup their own label with DJ James Friedman called Throne of Blood Records (name possibly taken from Akira Kurosawa's Macbeth-based film). Their initial intent for the imprint is to create a platform for the slew of vinyl singles and remixes compiled from their latest album Pieces of the People We Love . The Rapture will manage the creative direction and Friedman will supervise the label’s...

In support of their fourth album Visitations (to be released in America 1/23/07 via Domino), Clinic will take their astounding live show to U.S. shores in March 2007 for the first time in 3 years. Already released in Europe last month, the LP has received fantastic reviews from NME and Time Out London. It was recorded entirely in The Cooker , the foursome’s Liverpool studio. On February 5, Domino will also release "If You Could Change Your Mind ,"...

New Order’s Peter Hook wanted to form a new band. While partying one night with Andy Rourke of the Smiths and Mani of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream , Hook thought it a prime opportunity to recruit members for what would become Freebass . Normally that sort of proposition might have been met with a moment of contemplation, consequently stirring-up a collective approval or lively discussion. However, the New Order bassist was talking to...

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...