Trevor Horn PRODUCED BY TREVOR HORN. ZTT
This is the most fascinating compilation release of 2004, and an unusual one. Horne is a record producer who has enjoyed an uninterrupted career spanning decades, while working with a bewildering array of artists and music. However, the emphasis of his work, as showcased here, has been primarily within the pop segment of the market.
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John Frusciante INSIDE OF EMPTINESS. Record Collection Music
John Frusciante has released five solo albums this year, with each one better than the last, until now. The last one blew me away with its adventure and improvisation and just couldn’t be bettered. INSIDE OF EMPTINESS is not better but it’s as good in a different way.
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Fabolous REAL TALK. Desert Storm
It’s a long time since I really enjoyed a rap record. The industry seems to have taken over and injected huge doses of R&B and ‘pop’ in addition to toning down language. This album returns to rap roots with an ambience that leaves one in no doubt that things ain’t quite what they should be out there in urban USA. It’s a doom-laden collection of songs (with just a few delectable and diverse lighter moments) by an artist who pulls no punches, and which place him firmly in the top echelon of rappers.
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Andrea Bocelli ANDREA. Universal
A long, long time ago I met a wonderful girl while on holiday in Southern Italy. To cut a long story short, each month she used to send me a number of 7” pop records which I still have today. They were of course sung in Italian and while I had extreme difficulty in understanding her letters (I embarrassingly had to ask an Italian relative to translate), the music spoke a language that I could easily comprehend. A prime example of the ability of music to communicate in a way that mere words cannot is found in the work of Andrea Bocelli (and if you’re in any doubt just listen to this album and I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean).
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Zero 7 Live
Manchester Apollo, 19 November 2004
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The Umbrella Sequence SPARKLER CLICHE. OHEV Records
I’ve never heard of this Stateside band and I’ll probably never see them perform live. But this record is wonderful and, at least partially, is influenced by a band we all know called Radiohead.
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Eighteen Visions Interview
Interview with vocalist James Hart
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The Best Albums of 2004
It’s been the year when distinctive, independent-minded musical luminaries like Elliott Smith and John Peel passed away suddenly and prematurely. It’s been a year when The Daily Telegraph declared Girls Aloud as, “the queens of cutting-edge, innovative pop” (seriously!), and McFly as the new Beatles (stupidly). Then, yesterday, The Sunday Times offered up a double-page spread featuring Busted – our latest (ludicrous) attempt to invade the USA! It’s been the year of covering songs, when jazz became the new ‘pop’ with record companies imploring their A&R people to ‘find me another Jamie Cullum’, and said (exhausted) artist ended 2004 by releasing a disastrous cover of Everlasting Love. It’s been another year when UK TV and Radio concentrated on peddling and over-exposing musical mediocrity, and the finest music was all but ignored. And the year Bush and Blair sustained their corrupt, incompetent and sinister hold on political and legislative power, while the value put on human life was further and dramatically eroded.
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Snow Patrol THE TRIP. Family Recordings
This is the fifth instalment of The Trip (a series of DJ sessions compiled by selected artists and acts) and comes fresh from the rather substantial record bag of Gary Lightbody, lead vocalist and guitarist of Snow Patrol.
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Jamie Cullum LIVE AT BLENHEIM PALACE DVD. Universal
Earlier this year I witnessed and excellent live performance from Jamie Cullum in Manchester. While his album didn’t impress me, his live performance was one of the best I’ve seen in 2004. The prospect of a live DVD is therefore more interesting and as if reading my mind, Cullum has just released his first DVD.
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Shakenstir Photo Supplement |
DPK: Digital Press Kit |
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs |
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