wire—sound

Right. Eyes down. Full stare.

Laurel Canyons (formerly your favourites, In Fear Of Olive) kick the can down the road called 2013 with the release of their first new track of the year.

It’s a barnstormer entitled ‘Youth Blood’ and you’ll be hearing it up and down the land on the transistors, Walkmans and tannoy systems.

You’ll be able to get your mits on the download, as it were, come April the 15th from wherever you get your MP3 gubbins from.

Meantimes…

THIS IS WHAT WE SAY  :

Collected, composed and packing a ferocious punch, Laurel Canyons mine a fertile seam of Americana that blend elements of roots, folk, rockabilly and country. Their name is a respectful nod to some of their influences that lived in Laurel Canyon during its 60s and 70s bohemian heyday, but mixed in with that potent brew are elements of home and Laurel Canyons are unmistakably British in their unique sound.

They have played many a gig, a slew of festivals, garnered radio play and sessions a-plenty, along with successful support slots with a bevy of established bands. On the way they have amassed widespread  admiration from fans, musicians, DJs and music industry movers and shakers alike. Laurel Canyons are about to reach out up and down these isles and beyond.

Come June, the quartet are to release their first album. As vital as it is timeless, this debut sets out their stall as a tight knit group brimming with talent and passion. Recorded above a betting shop in their hometown of Doncaster, the songs distil the everyday honest realities of getting by on your wits, exploring relationships and making the best of the hand you’re dealt.

Although the music game at times eludes genuine talent, there is no cause for worry with this gang. The outstanding, timeless quality of their music and emotional investment therein will bring just rewards. Only those with wooden hearts and cloth ears will miss such artistry

THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY :

“Really, really great songs, boss lyrics too and sympathetic arrangements played with real feeling and soul… what is there not to like?”
– Richard Hawley

“It could be a few months away, it might be more than a year, but Laurel Canyons are going to be massive – Mumfords massive if there’s any justice.”
– Nick Rice, Clash Magazine

“I think, very promising…”
– Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“Laurel Canyons combines the raggedy charm of roots with an urgency and insistence that’s one hundred per cent contemporary”
– www.subba-cultcha.com

“Twanged-up skiffling rock and roll from the Deep South – deep South Yorkshire, that is. Energised by Johnny Cash, Bright Eyes and Bob Dylan, this quartet has the Richard Hawley seal of approval and ours too.”
– Andrew Harrison, Q Magazine

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Monday June 25th sees the release by Yorkshire based In Fear Of Olive of their third outing : a download only track entitled ‘Love’s Grown Wild’. Available at iTunes, Amazon, HMV and wherever you get your MP3 goodies from.

Following on from touring with Magazine and support slots with King Charles, Lindi Ortega and Alabama 3 last year, In Fear of Olive unveil a new, harder edge to their roots-inspired sound.

Their previous two EPs drew much praise and plenty of radio play from amongst others Steve Lamacq, Gideon Coe and Cerys Matthews. More than 90 gigs later, together with festival appearances and radio sessions under their belts, comes a change of producer and a change of pace with drums and electric guitars dominating their soundscape.

What’s retained are writer Jake Cope’s unquestionable talent for lyric, melody and soaring vocals, which have drawn admirers such as Richard Hawley and Lamacq to pass comment.

In Fear Of Olive were spotted as a teenage trio and given two years of development time and encouragement to hone their writing and performance skills. With the addition of drummer Arv Teeroovengadum and guitarist PJ Burdett swapping the acoustic for a Telecaster, together with trademark harmonies from bassist France Lahmar, In Fear Of Olive emerge fully-fledged and all grown up.

Artist: In Fear Of Olive

Title: ‘Love’s Grown Wild’

Cat #: WIRED 28

Format: Download only

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Magazine, the peerless, impossibly influential art-punk outfit, undiminished by age, return with their first new recorded material in 30 years.

‘No Thyself’ – the 10 track general release CD / digital download will be available worldwide on 24 October 2011 to coincide with the band’s November UK Tour.

But before that, a strictly limited edition 11 track Digipak CD version of ‘No Thyself’, featuring the lead-off tracks ‘Hello Mister Curtis (with apologies)’, ‘Holy Dotage’ and the exclusive bonus track ‘Blisterpack Blues’ is now exclusively available to pre-order at http://www.wire-sound.com/shop/magazine.

Order today as a single item or be tempted by the top-value pre-tour bundle featuring the 11 track Digipak CD, the exclusive ‘Hello Mister Curtis (with apologies)’ / ‘Holy Dotage’ 10″ vinyl + digital download and the 2011 ‘Pretty Polyp’ T.Shirt. Your chance to get more Magazine sooner. Smart. And then some.

This edition is only available through the Wire–Sound operation and will not be on general sale.

Items will be shipped out at the start of October. Promise.

‘No Thyself’ – The complete tracklisting :

01. Do The Meaning
02. Other Thematic Material
03. The Worst Of Progress….
04. Hello Mister Curtis (with apologies)
05. Physics
06. Happening In English
07. Holy Dotage
08. Of Course Howard (1979)
09. Final Analysis Waltz
10. The Burden Of A Song
Bonus Track
11. Blisterpack Blues

Apparently the literary question is beyond yer ken. Now it’s a straight 50 yard dash. What was the third Magazine 45? Blimey!!! 1-2-3.

FYI : the answer to the previously set question was ‘Freedom’ by Jonathan Franzen (published by Fourth Estate; £8.99 softback). So there.

“A holiday with pay…keep yourself all the time you’re down there, pay your fare both ways and come back five quid in pocket.” - George Orwell.

We can now announce that Magazine will make an exclusive UK festival appearance at this year’s Hop Farm Festival in Paddock Wood, nr. Tonbridge, Kent on Saturday the 2nd of July. They share the main stage with our old mucker Morrissey, old ox-hide himself, Iggy, his merry Stooges, Mr. Lou ‘Happy Go Lucky’ Reed and the downright shamanistical Ms. Patti Smith. Blimey! For more details about tickets and all that stuff go to www.hopfarmfestival.com

“When he comes to measure,
He never knows where to stop;
Ay, ay, get in the bin,
And take the bloody lot!”

As the above headline says, our brand new signings, In Fear Of Olive, release their debut limited edition 4 track EP, entitled ‘All We Can Do Is Wonder’, on the ever popular CD format and as a state-of-the-art MP3 download (with additional 5th track ‘Acting My Age’) on the 3rd of May 2011. You can purchase this winner on our very own Wire-Sound label at all good record stores, hyperspace outlets, eCommerce facilities, participating petrol stations and ice-rinks… OR you can get your mits on it double quick sticks like by clicking onto our online shop link on this very site, ordering here and now and we’ll dispatch it straight to your door. Look lively… fill your boots.

The mighty Magazine complement their appearance on the BBC Electric Proms by bringing their big sticks to ‘Later… with Jools Holland‘. A version of the show will be broadcast live on Tuesday 13th October at 10.00pm on BBC2, and a further different edition will be broadcast on Friday 16th October at just after 11.30pm. Same bat channel.

Also on the bill are a la mode Sarf London synth duo La Roux, salty bluesman Seasick Steve, the right rollicking hair monsters Wolfmother and sweet soul supremo Jimmy Ruffin, who had a worldwide hit in 1966 with ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’ … and who, incidentally, Dave Formula played with back in the day at the Twisted Wheel, Manchester. What goes around eh?

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The release and dispatch of pre-ordered copies of the ‘Real Life + Thereafter’ DVD is imminent.
Sorry for missing the original anticipated date on end of June. Howard wanted to make some changes to the sound mix which took longer than envisaged. These changes are now complete and the discs are now with the manufacturer in France, who in turn is celebrating their glorious revolution with ‘Bastille Day’. Depending how much vin rouge is drunk will impact on the final delivery date. We are looking to have copies on sale at the festival warm-up show in Sheffield on Wednesday 15th July. It’s that close.

Similarly, those of you wondering where your pre-ordered copies of ‘Satellite Sweetheart’ by Dave Formula are, will sleep a little easier knowing that the delay is down to Dave recording more and additional tracks to enhance the original selection.

These are finished, but, sadly, what with the upcoming Magazine activity, this means that the release will be delayed until after September. Sorry for the wait. Keep watching the skies, my friends. Keep watching the skies. The stork’s a-comin’.

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The highly anticipated Magazine DVD of the recent February reunion shows is now available for pre-order. This strictly limited edition 2 disc, region free, PAL format DVD set will be shipped in mid July.

The ‘Real Life + Thereafter’ DVD contains the entire concert filmed at Manchester Academy …

PLUS … Extra features include ‘Feed The Enemy’ filmed at the rehearsals, an alternate take of ‘A Song From Under The Floorboards’ and exclusive images from the period …

PLUS … On the second CD disc, you get an audio recording straight from the desk of 11 songs from the show at The Forum, London …

PLUS … In the package, you get a free tour T-Shirt in any size you like ranging from Super Small to Mighty XL and all stops in between.

Go to the ‘shop’ to get busy. You know you want one.

OFFICIAL.

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Magazine will play The Soap Show : Episode 2009 at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank on Tuesday, the 1st of September 2009. General tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, the 24th April, and will be available from box office and online – www.southbankcentre.co.uk – at a cost of £27.50 and £25.00.

You heard it here first. Go my friends. Go. Be correct.

OFFICIAL.

You take 10 days holiday, and people say, ‘Going anywhere nice?’

I just had the best holiday you can get. How do I describe the places I’ve just been?

Train to that there London town. Bermondsey, London. Big dark room with no windows. Had to practice making some sounds. Couple of girls came along and made some sounds too. Train back home.

Thought I’d drive to the next room on the M40. Cowley, Oxford. Bigger dark room. No windows, flashing lights, lots of people. Made the sounds we’d been practising. Lots of happy people. Drove home.

Next day got train again to London. Met a bloke I used to work with. Had a chat. Kentish Town, London. Huge room with two floors and seats. No windows. Again still quite dark, until someone put lots of lights on. Four girls also came along. Two were those from Borough. They made their sounds, then we made ours. A good many more happy people.

Liked it so much, went back the next night. You know what… it was even better from where I sat the second time, and my kids decided to come too. They got a taxi home and the driver said he knew a lot of the sounds we made from a while back.

Went for a train ride to Manchester. All Saints, Manchester. These girls must have got the same holiday package I got!! Anyway, big oblong black room. There may have been some windows but they were covered. Many, many shiny-topped people. All of us made our sounds and there were lots of very, very, happy bouncy people.

Got on a big bus to go to Scotland. Stopped off at a 1970′s service station in Bolton. Everything seemed to cost £1.80. Got to Scotland. No proper football on the telly!! Excellent North Indian curry.

The Gorbals, Glasgow. Room similar to the one in Kentish Town. Different accents. Beginning to think these girls know a thing or two. They keep making these really good sounds before the blokes I’m with make ours and then at the end, two of the girls danced on top of two of the really, really happy people and they all make the most noise … EVER. Walked over a river. Went to a karaoke bar. Closed. Monday night I guess. Met some of those really, really happy people. Thought it might be good to go and see if some different people in Manchester might like to join us in the dark oblong room again.

Got the train instead of the big bus back to Manchester. One bloke traveling with us pointed out a couple of mills he’d worked in a while back. All Saints, Manchester. Same room but with lots of cameras pointed at us, and, another girl with some other blokes also there to make some really good sounds. So the first lot of girls (I bet they will be on telly soon) have a good time making sounds on the raised bit of the room at one end and one of them had a birthday cake. Then the other girl with her mates make different great sounds, and then me and the blokes I’m with have to stand there after making our sounds and everyone makes more noise at us than I thought it possible to make. I hope the cameras caught it all so I can put it in my holiday album.

Definitely the best holiday I’ve been on so far…

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It will come as very little surprise to inform you that the above mentioned 20 tickets have now been snapped up. However the optimistic outlook at this stage of D-Day minus and counting, is that we are trying our damnedest to squeeze some more production tickets back onto the streets and into your hands. No promises at this stage, but there may be a final, final, final 10 or so tickets released for sale on a strictly first come, first serve basis at The Forum’s box office on the glorious 12th. This will happen one way or another on Thursday at high noon.

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20 tickets that we held back for production purposes are now available for the SOLD OUT Thursday London show at The Forum. Get ‘em while they’re hot, they’re lovely…

Ticketline 0844 847 2405. http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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Linder plays Manchester Academy as special guest of Magazine on Tuesday February 17th 2009. This will be Linder’s first return to a Manchester stage since 1982. Her last performance there was at the Hacienda, where as a lifelong vegetarian, she infamously appeared in her protest dress of raw meat. Linder is known to fans of Magazine as the artist who created the iconic image for the cover of the debut album ‘Real Life’. At a celebrity auction in New York last year, actress Chloe Sevigny, purchased one of the ‘heads’ featured on the album sleeve. For this appearance, Linder will perform extended versions of the four songs first released as ‘The Visit’ in 1980 by legendary Manchester label New Hormones (who also released the infamous Buzzcocks’ ‘Spiral Scratch EP’ in 1976).

She will be accompanied by the guitarist Stuart McCallum (The Cinematic Orchestra), Mykey Wilson on drums (Dust Junkies) and John Ellis (John Squire) on keyboards. Linder will be costumed by British designer Richard Nicoll, whose Autumn/Winter 2009 collection is based on Linder’s art and music and will be premiered as part of London Fashion Week in the days following the Academy concert.

As an artist, Linder has long been cited as muse and seminal designer to Buzzcocks, Magazine and Morrissey. Last year, six of the collages made by Linder in 1977 – one of which was used by Buzzcocks for their debut United Artists single, ‘Orgasm Addict’ – were purchased by the Tate gallery.

Linder’s career as a singer and musician with her own group, Ludus, has always run parallel to her work as a visual artist. Her early recordings have recently been re-issued to international acclaim.

Over recent years many pop historians have charted the configuration of musicians and artists who worked in Manchester during the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s. Linder’s early relationship with Howard Devoto has been cited as one of punk’s most intriguing couplings, and it is in this spirit that on the last night of Magazine’s current tour, they will share a stage together for the first time.

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Magazine are pleased to end the rumours, right here and right now, regarding just who is going to walk in the not inconsiderable size 9s of John McGeoch and step up to become the guitarist for the Magazine shows in February 2009.

After due diligence, and no small amount of fine tuning, it is now right and proper to announce that Noko will be that man.

Noko’s previous with Magazine related projects include being the other half to Howard Devoto in Luxuria, who released two albums between 1988 and 1990 – ‘Unanswerable Lust’ and ‘Beast Box’. The latter co-produced by Dave Formula. Prior to that Noko replaced Barry Adamson on bass, and then played guitar with John Doyle and Buzzcock Pete Shelley, in the amusingly named The Pete Shelley Group.

With Magazine, McGeoch played a Yamaha SG1000 + MXR flanger + a few other bits. Noko is substantially duplicating this equipment set-up, enabling him to create and re-create much of Magazine’s original dynamic with a flick of his fringe and a switch.

Trust us, he’s the man for the job.

Next up, it can be revealed that Ipso Facto have been invited to open the shows with a short set of their own making and later will join Magazine on background vocals on several numbers.

Back in the day, Magazine offered the traditional support slot to up-and-coming left field acts on the cusp of a breakthrough. Cue Bauhaus and Simple Minds … Ipso Facto are ripe and ready to carry the mantle.

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The show at The Forum in London on February 13th has SOLD OUT within 48 hours of tickets being released for sale. Due to the fact that 2500 Magazine fans in reach of the metropolitan area can’t be wrong, it’s been decided that it would be only right and proper to allow another 2500 people of fine taste and judgement to take their chance. Magazine will now play another night in London Town. Tickets are now available for Thursday 12th February 2009 for The Forum in Kentish Town. No price increase. Still only £25 from the usual suspects. Probably more from unusual suspects.