Jonathan Hatchman (@JonHatchman) picks out the sounds and stories that have been making headlines over the last seven days… and presents them all as a handy playlist
Although the year’s music festival season has only just come to a close, the plans for the summer of 2015 are already beginning to make headlines. So to begin proceedings for the UK’s constantly growing circuit, one of Britain’s most popular events – Reading And Leeds – has already announced its first wave of line-up additions, with Metallica set to headline. Having topped the bill of this year’s Glastonbury and Sonisphere festivals, the metal outfit will return for two shows during August’s Bank Holiday weekend, next year. Here’s a reminder of their set at Glastonbury. We’re sure you’ll agree that they’ve still got it.
In other big news, this week, Beyoncé dropped a brand new music video for 7/11, taken from the recently released platinum edition of her latest album BEYONCÉ, featuring Queen Bey dancing around her home while the track plays in the back ground. Indeed, it’s not one of her biggest pop sensations, yet the music video still effortlessly managed to cause a huge amount of online hype circa its grand unveiling.
Also making an ostentatious return, this time with his first solo recording, is Arcade Fire frontman Will Butler. Set to release his debut solo album – Policy – next year, recorded in the living room of Jimi Hendrix’s iconic Electric Lady Studios, which is set to pay tribute to American music in a similar vein to the likes of
The Breeders, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, The Magnetic Fields, Ghostface Killah, and more. Setting expectations absolutely through the roof. Listen to Take My Side below.
Arctic Monkeys have made the record books this week with 2013’s AM, having sold over one million vinyl copies since its release, becoming the biggest selling vinyl record since 1996.
Currently on tour with his new band The Voidz, Julian Casablancas revealed that The Strokes – who are touring next year – will set out to record together, again, in 2015, but only “if the vibe is right.” And having played a show at New York’s legendary Hammerstein Ballroom earlier in the week, Casablancas solo band were joined by Blood Orange/ Lightspeed Champion man Devonté Hynes for a rendition of The Strokes’ You Only Live Once, with Hynes taking on lead vocal duties for the 2006 track. As expected, some fan-recorded footage of the performance has surfaced online.
Flying the flag for British indie, Liverpool’s Circa Waves are following up a recent Libertines support slot with a huge UK headline tour set to take place next year. They have unveiled a brand new song – Fossils. Set to be taken from their forthcoming debut album, set for release next year, the new single is a buoyant guitar driven gems that’s filled with playful pop hooks and melodies, expressing an Indie vibe that harks back to the genre’s mid 2000s wonder days.
