http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/last-word/how-the-will-of-the-people-is-creating-a-new-democracy-in-music-860371.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/last-word/how-the-will-of-the-people-is-creating-a-new-democracy-in-music-860371.html <p> Today is 4 July, and there is no more fitting a date to hijack for the purpose of celebrating our independent musical history than the American Declaration of Independence. After breaking from the British, the Americans enshrined a constitution so all-encompassing in its vision of law, governance and society, that it has provided stability to a diverse and massive geography and population for more than 200 years. </p> The Last Word Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:46:33 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/label-profile/label-profile-faith-and-hope-860347.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/label-profile/label-profile-faith-and-hope-860347.html <p> An evening of overindulgence can often end with drunken boasts, flights of fancy and grandiose business plans for global domination. But for frustrated musician Neil Claxton, his alcohol-fuelled rant with a friend about the state of the music business struck such a chord that, in the cold light of day, he phoned his friend David Wood with a proposition. </p> Label Profile Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:16:33 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/music-me/music-amp-me-alison-mosshart-of-the-kills-860344.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/music-me/music-amp-me-alison-mosshart-of-the-kills-860344.html <p> <b>The first record I bought was… </b> </p> <p> I don&rsquo;t honestly remember. There was no place to buy records where I was living, so I used to tape songs off the radio and listen to them on my Walkman. </p> Music & Me Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:07:42 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/live-review-michachu-and-the-shapes-860329.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/live-review-michachu-and-the-shapes-860329.html <p> Micachu (real name Mica Levi) is a precociously talented newcomer. The punk experimental songwriter from East London studies composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and recently the London Philharmonic Orchestra played one of her avant-garde pieces at theRoyal Festival Hall. </p> Live Reviews Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:50:20 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/live-review-florence-and-the-machine-860322.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/live-review-florence-and-the-machine-860322.html <p> It&rsquo;s not that Florence Welch has a machine; rather, she is the machine. The 20-year-old London singer twirls onto the stage, arms held high, and storms through 13 songs in her short set like a whirling dervish, knocking her audience sideways with a soul blues voice that can rival Sixties Motown singers, never mind her peers. </p> Live Reviews Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:48:19 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/dance/creamfields-and-other-festivals-are-under-pressure-to-diversify-860256.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/dance/creamfields-and-other-festivals-are-under-pressure-to-diversify-860256.html <p> Following the disastrous conclusion to Gatecrasher&rsquo;s Summer Sound System event in May, when a rainstorm forced Hot Chip and The Chemical Brothers to cancel their sets on the Sunday evening, organisers of similar large-scale dance parties this summer will be nervously watching the skies. Yet there&rsquo;s also a feeling that dance promoters are facing other, less elemental pressures. </p> Dance Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:25:13 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/natural-mystic-860199.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/natural-mystic-860199.html <p> Chris Blackwell is often regarded as synonymous with Bob Marley and rightly so: it was Blackwell who saw in him the potential to grow from a relatively small-time Jamaican artist into a worldwide superstar. </p> Music Magazine Features Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:38:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/songs-of-freedom-860180.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/songs-of-freedom-860180.html <p> The Fourth of July is, of course, Independence Day, when America celebrates the occasion, back in 1776, when it declared its independence from Britain. As of this year, however, it is also Independents Day, a worldwide celebration of a different kind of liberty: that from Sony BMG, Warner, EMI and the Universal Music Group, who together constitute the major record labels. It didn&rsquo;t even take a revolutionary war. </p> Music Magazine Features Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:28:13 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/free-compilation-cd-with-one-little-indian-records-859617.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/free-compilation-cd-with-one-little-indian-records-859617.html <p> To celebrate our love of music, the ethos of being independent and Independents Day 08, One Little Indian - the home of Björk, Alabama 3 and countless other independent artists - want to share with you the reasons why we value our independence and our artists so much. </p> Music Magazine Features Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:22:34 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/o2-wireless-festival-853086.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/o2-wireless-festival-853086.html <p> This year&rsquo;s O2 Wireless Festival is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the summer calendar. Five stages in the heart of London are packed with the hottest new bands and the biggest names in music alongside some great comedy and a host of other entertainment throughout the site. </p> Festivals 2008 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:22:24 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/wakestock-blenheim-850672.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/wakestock-blenheim-850672.html <p> Relentless Wakestock is Europe&rsquo;s largest wakeboard music festival, combining the cultures of music and the world's fastest growing watersport in a weekend of high-octane excitement! </p> Festivals 2008 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:28:53 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/last-word/celebrating-independents-day-849686.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/last-word/celebrating-independents-day-849686.html <p> On 4 July, we will celebrate Independents Day, a new annual initiative from AIM in the UK designed to raise awareness and celebrate the importance and success of independently released music across the globe. </p> The Last Word Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:18:53 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/day-life/day-in-the-life-tim-binns-aampr-director-new-state-entertainment-849654.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/day-life/day-in-the-life-tim-binns-aampr-director-new-state-entertainment-849654.html <p> <b>6.30am </b> </p> <p> The alarm goes off, but I usually lie in until 7am. I make tea for my wife, Jenny, and then wake up our children, Stan andMolly. I leave the house around 8.30am for the school run, then it&rsquo;s off to our offices in Queen&rsquo;s Park, London. </p> Day In The Life Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:04:53 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/ones-to-watch-florence-and-the-machine-849640.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/ones-to-watch-florence-and-the-machine-849640.html <p> A strong performance at Steve Lamacq&rsquo;s stage at the SXSW festival was my personal introduction to London&rsquo;s Florence Welch, whose &ldquo;machine&rdquo;, in that instance, turned out to be simply a rather low-key guitarist. </p> Music Magazine Features Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:53:32 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/zoo-thousand-and-eight-848967.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/zoo-thousand-and-eight-848967.html <p> Music meets mammal with the launch of Zoo Thousand, the newest addition to the festival circuit set in the stunning Kent countryside. </p> Festivals 2008 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:14:18 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/the-big-chill-836957.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/festivals-2008/the-big-chill-836957.html <p> &quot;The Big Chill is an experience shaped by those who take part in it, making it the UK's most dynamic festival&quot;. </p> <p> It is impossible to define The Big Chill Festival itself; the music is a diverse offering with genres ranging from classical to dance, including folk, jazz, hip-hop, world music, funk, soul, blues, pop, lounge and ambient. </p> Festivals 2008 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:05:04 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/dance/is-the-rave-spotlight-shifting-back-to-the-alternative-los-angeles-scene-842986.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/dance/is-the-rave-spotlight-shifting-back-to-the-alternative-los-angeles-scene-842986.html <p> For a brief period in the early-Nineties, Los Angeles was the epicentre of rave culture in America, thanks to a series of epic, hedonistic parties and the presence of Mars FM, the country&rsquo;s first radio station dedicated to dance music. Yet unlike, say, San Francisco, the city never developed a reputation as a nexus for electronic music makers. </p> <p> Finally, it seems things are changing, with two fresh creatives surfacing on the alternative Los Angeles scene: Daedelus and Flying Lotus. Daedelus is the alias of Alfred Darlington. His new album <i>Love To Make Music To</i> (Ninja Tune), channels electronica, hiphop and R&amp;B through an array of unusual guest vocalists, including Michael Johnson of Sub Pop band Holopaw and Brooklyn soul diva Erika Rose. </p> Dance Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:00:45 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/label-profile/label-profile-president-records-841988.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/label-profile/label-profile-president-records-841988.html <p> The history of President Records, one of the first independent labels in the UK, is inextricably linked to that of music publisher Edward Kassner. Born in Austria to Jewish parents in 1920, Edward dreamed of becoming a composer but his orchestral aspirations were cut short when Hitler annexed Austria. </p> <p> &ldquo;He was tipped off by his friends that they were rounding up Jewish boys,&rdquo; says David Kassner, Edward&rsquo;s eldest son and now MD of President. &ldquo;He fled through Belgium and got caught trying to cross the border at Aachen twice. On the third occasion a German soldier caught him but let him go saying that he hadn&rsquo;t signed up to shoot young boys.&rdquo; </p> Label Profile Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:24:18 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/rise-and-shine-jamie-lidells-regeneration-841933.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/rise-and-shine-jamie-lidells-regeneration-841933.html <p> Jamie Lidell&rsquo;s new album is called <i>Jim</i>, which makes introductions more than somewhat confusing. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s actually quite rare that people call me Jim,&rdquo; he says with a vigorous handshake. In his other hand is a pink cowboy hat. &ldquo;Jimmy and Jimbo crop up. My sister calls me Jam and so does my mum. It pays to have a lot of names. I haven&rsquo;t changed my name completely like Dylan. But maybe I should for the next record.&rdquo; </p> <p> Comparisons with Dylan are more apposite than you might think; Lidell is a musical chameleon, too. He started his career as one half of Super Collider, making dark, aggressive techno-funk. </p> Music Magazine Features Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:24:13 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/music-me/music-amp-me-russel-mael-of-sparks-841912.html http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/music-me/music-amp-me-russel-mael-of-sparks-841912.html <p> <b>The first record I bought was...</b> </p> <p> &ldquo;Happenings Ten Years Time Ago&rdquo; by The Yardbirds in Los Angeles, in the late Sixties. </p> <p> <b>The first gig I went to was...</b> </p> <p> The Rolling Stones in Los Angeles when I was 18 years old. I was dressed to emulate them, trying to look like I was in an English band. </p> Music & Me Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:04:30 +0100