It's not the size...

As the record industry struggles to come to terms with new ways to deliver content and the big boys and girls seem content to constantly recycle old product (padded releases out with studio floor cuttings), the more innovative companies are getting ever more inventive with their music delivery and the new Carl Cox USB release All Roads Lead To The Dancefloor is a fine example arriving loaded with a whole host of brand new taster tracks, video’s, radio shows and more (and all this before the album proper arrives in December). “You pay the one price for the one product,” explains Carl, “and the USB will not only give you the album, but it’ll also be your key to everything I do in the next 12 months or so”. Essentially a website home page from where new content can be added – the user simply plugs in and updates within seconds – the USB stick's life is extended with regular new content including access to additional album remixes, exclusive live set recordings, video interviews & behind the scenes video footage from Carl on tour and, remarkably enough, access to live (yup live as they happen) video streams from Carl’s gigs. A new release that just keeps giving in fact… More info can be had here www.carlcox.com or you can purchase this natty little item here

As regular readers will be well aware we don't currently have a dedicated singles review section, something we really must try to rectify we realise, but occasionally we receive a new release that makes us say things like, 'blimey, that's a bit of alright', and 'lor, lumme we're right fond of that and no mistake' (and yes we do all talk in faux Dickensian cockernee accents up here in TM-Towers, must be the thin air). Just such a single is the new one from our old mate Tracie Hunter who, with the help of Joe 'Del Leppard' Elliott has cut a version of her dad's old duet with Genya Ravan entitled 'Junkman' (featuring her dad on backing vocals no less) which we've not been able to stop humming and you can check it out here. Look out for the new album Vasilisa in the new year...

Crazy CD Comic Capers

If, like many of the older boys here, you are fond of a taking a comic into the toilet with you then we feel it behoves us to let you know that you can now happily waste time reading them on your computer as well thanks to CD comics - and whilst you may think that the CD is a play on their slightly larger rivals DC it is in fact more to do with the fact that you purchase the comics/graphic novels on CD (oh and the writer/artist, who sets all of his action in his home town of Sheffield is called Craig Daley). Thus far you can get titles like The Attercliffe Prowler (nasty Jack The Ripper type goings on), Meadowhell (nasty shopping mall slasher type goings on), Manhatten 1930 (super heroes for hire meet devil worshipping and Nazi types) and just released Football Crazy, which we haven’t read but we’re guessing is about nasty goings on at the footy. Why are we telling you all of this? Well the Mr Daley in question used to supply a monthly cartoon called the Jerks for much missed Making Music magazine (under the Pseudonym Dan Daley) which we remember very fondly indeed. Check out CD comics at either cddcomics.webs.com or cdgraphicnovels.blogspot.com.

Held by many to be the godfather of rap (although he preferred to think of himself as a bluesologist) Gil Scott-Heron died on the afternoon of May 27, 2011 in New York City aged 62, after becoming ill upon returning from a European trip, and although he had previously disclosed in a 2008 New York Magazine interview that he had been HIV-positive for several years, as yet the cause of death is still unclear. Scott-Heron's material, which spanned soul, jazz, blues, the spoken word and classic albums recorded in the early 1970s like Pieces of a Man and Winter in America were a huge influence on many hip hop musicians (on hearing of his death Chuck D tweeted ‘RIP GSH...and we do what we do and how we do because of you’), sadly a drug habit, which led to several terms in prison on possession charges, derailed much of his later career until a triumphant return on 2010’s magnificent return to form I’m New Here.

Poly Styrene Says Final Up Yours

Poly Styrene, probably best remembered for her vocal performances with punk upstarts X-Ray Spex has finally succumbed to the breast cancer with which she was diagnosed last November. Poly, real name Marianne Elliot-Said, lost her battle on 25th of April after the cancer spread to her spine and lungs, but continued promoting her upcoming album Generation Indigo, from her bed at St Michael’s Hospice right up until the end. Billy Bragg said: “Punk without Poly Styrene and the X-Ray Spex wouldn’t have been the same” and Boy George said on Twitter: “I was a fan of Poly before I got to know her. Bless you Poly you will be missed. Legend.” Like many of her generation Poly was inspired to form a band after seeing a gig by the Sex Pistols on Hastings Pier on her 18th birthday and formed X-Ray Spex in 1976 releasing classic punk moment 'Oh Bondage, Up Yours' soon after and the equally classic Germ Free Adolescents album in November 1978.

Gary Moore R.I.P.

Gary Moore, former guitarist for Skid Row and Thin Lizzy was found dead in a hotel room while on holiday in Estepona in Spain on Sunday 6th February where he is believed to have been on holiday with his partner Jo. Aged just 58 the Belfast born musician, who is widely recognised as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, had been enjoying a resurgence in his career sharing the stage with such blues and rock luminaries as B.B. King, Albert King, Albert Collins and Greg Lake releasing a series of fine blues albums including Power of the Blues (2004), Old New Ballads Blues (2006) and Close As You Get (2007) although he will probably always be best remembered for his work on classic albums like Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979) with Thin Lizzy and his excellent solo albums Victims Of The Future (1983) and 1990's Still Got the Blues featuring this little belter.