Dälek to Release Gutter Tactics January 2009, Remix D'Mite's "Read a Book"

By Kenny Bloggins on

Shortly before the wonderful world of mashups, groups like New Jersey's Dälek were really doing mashups. That is to say that Dälek's previous effects, such as 2005's doom-saturated brain-burner Absence, mashed disparate genres such as shoegaze, noise, and hip-hop into something entirely new, something that didn't quite fall in to both the aforementioned classifications or the contemporary definition of a mashup. Indeed, Dälek remain one of the most diverse hip-hop collectives in existence, and they're probably still the absolute loudest to boot.

So it's no surprise in knowing that the forthcoming Gutter Tactics, out January 27 on Mike Patton's Ipecac label, is probably packed with surprises. However, the production half of Dälek, okt0pus, recently offered up some hints, saying "Gutter Tactics is more about us continually doing some early hip-hop shit but with the attitude of the Melvins or Black Sabbath," so you can still expect the socio-political lyrics, headphone-decimating swells, and cavernous beats.

Two new tracks, "2012 (the Pillage)" and "No Question," are currently available at Dälek's MySpace page, showcasing a slight decrease in volume, but a more intense, haunting mood.

Gutter Tactics tracklisting:

Hey! It’s another story about a new wave-y post-punk kinda band reuniting! And this time it’s Ultravox!

By Liz Louche on 11-18-2008

They featured a psychotherapist on bass, appeared at Live Aid, wrote the 1981 hit "Vienna," and starred a debonair mustache-rockin' frontman before that guy from The Killers and that guy from Gogol Bordello were even a glimmer in the NME's eye. One of their members co-wrote and provided a little producing pizazz for the perennial Lite FM holiday favorite, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by the 1984 all-star megagroup Band Aid. Their name originally had an exclamation point in it, which is commonly regarded as an indicator of exciting awesomeness.

I am talking, of course, about Ultravox, the new wave/post-punk group originally formed in the late 1970s, who are -- you guessed it -- now reunited and it feels so good.

Details are limited, but my trusted informant (the Ultravox website) has told me that all four members of the 1980s Ultravox -- psychotherapist Chris Cross, violin/keyboard enthusiast Billy Currie, lord of the drums Warren Cann, and the once bemoustached Midge Ure -- are joining their awesome powers for this most recent excursion on the nostalgia reunion train, set to make stops throughout Wales, Scotland, and England.

These will be the group's first live performances since 1985.

Music Writers Get Pink Slipped! Mr P Told Me To Tell Mango Starr, Nobodaddy, and Annapocalypse: You’re Fired. Finish Your News Stories And Pack It Up.

By Mario Speedwagon on 11-18-2008

In this day and age, a Music Writer still can’t catch a fuckin’ break. The Daily Swarm (via Media Mob) is reporting that there have been layoffs at Entertainment Weekly, Time, People, and a bunch of other publications. These cuts are being issued by Time Inc., but I’ve been hearing the sad-sobs from just-out-of-college, living-on-the-verge-of-poverty-in-Brooklyn staffers from other publications as well. Apparently, the staffers getting the boot are given no warning or options and are being terminated on a “case-by-case basis.”

They also are reporting that Juke, founded by former dudes from Blender, Village Voice, and Nothing Feels Good, has been shutdown. That shit didn’t even launch yet. Apparently CBS Interactive is screwing things up. Craig Marks, formerly of Blender, was hired as the music editor for CNET. Well, CNET was bought by CBS Interactive for a buttload of money in May, and the two combined forces during the summer. Not only did they put the breaks on Juke, but they also then laid off Marks and others involved. What a bunch of Ds. Glad I’m making the big bucks at TMT!

Paul McCartney Plans to Release Unheard 14-minute Beatles Song, Maybe Get Married Another Time, Whatever’s Clever

By Nobodaddy on 11-18-2008

Quite obviously in an effort to double his chances at making TMT’s Year-End List (his third LP collaborating with Orb/Killing Joke’s Youth as The Fireman also drops this week), the deliciously hammy Sir Paul McCartney has recently confirmed the existence of the legendary ‘lost’ Beatles freestyle/psych/noise track, “Carnival of Light” in an interview with BBC Radio 4. Cleverly side-stepping the abundant lameness of the song’s title, McCartney went on to explain that the 14-minute jam was recorded by the band in 1967 (during vocal sessions for “Penny Lane,” in fact) for an electronic music festival and was never officially released after its lone public debut. According to BBC News, McCartney pushed for the song to be included as part of those good ol’ The Beatles' 'Anthology' releases in the mid-’90s, but it was, you know, vehemently vetoed by the rest of the band on the grounds that it was, you know, way too embarrassing to the band’s legacy.

But damnit, you just can’t keep a scorned Beatle down, as McCartney is now once again alluding to its impending release. “The time has come for its moment,” said McCartney, summoning his best J.R.R. Tolkien rhetoric. And while he didn’t provide a timeframe for the song’s release or whether it would be included on a compilation or exist as a standalone song, the BBC has noted that "all he [McCartney] needs now is the blessing of Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison's widow, Olivia."

As for the tune itself, it’s been described by George Martin as a good ol’ fashioned "jumble of shrieks and psychedelic effects" that "features the sound of gargled water and strangled shouts from [John] Lennon which vie with church organs and distorted guitar" (move over, Fuck Buttons). "I like it because it's The Beatles free, going off piste,” McCartney said of the illustrious jam. “I said all I want you to do is just wander around all the stuff, bang it, shout, play it, it doesn't need to make any sense. Hit a drum then wander on to the piano, hit a few notes, just wander around. So that's what we did and then put a bit of an echo on it. It's very free."

Okay, so I’m just going to go ahead and say it: that sounds fucking terrible.

Circuit City Still Exists! Files For Bankruptcy Protection

By Mario Speedwagon on 11-17-2008

Hey metro-children, you might not be aware of this, but Circuit City is still around. No shit, seriously. We have one in Athens. I kind of forgot about it until I accidentally found it after failing to find Gossip Girl on DVD at Target, Best Buy, and the mall (everywhere was sold out of it, so shut the fuck up and don’t make fun of me). It was a wasteland -- completely empty -- and I wondered, “I wonder if anyone even shops here?” Apparently not! Last week, Circuit City Stores Inc., “the nation’s second-biggest electronics retailer,” filed for bankruptcy protection. Under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy code, it means that credit-bitches can’t bug the shit out of them until they come up with a reorganization plan. I suggest using my plan, which is to fill up your mailbox so they can’t leave you voicemail.

The company plans to cut 700 or more jobs and close 20% of their stores (which amounts to about 155 stores in 28 or so states). Oh, and layoff thousands of workers, amounting to over 7,000 people getting FUCKED. Circuit City had only one profitable quarter in the past year, thanks to being pile-drived by Best Buy Co. “and others.” Who are the “and others?” An intern where I work mentioned some place called “Fry’s.” I don’t know what that is.

Circuit City stock shares have also been trading for under a buck, but, like, that’s not saying much since the stock market is total balls. Anyway, check your local Circuit City; I bet they are having some pimp sales.

As Sure As The Sky Is Blue and Water Is Wet, Ghostface Will Release a New Album in December

By Mike McHugh on 11-17-2008

For the past two Decembers, The Wu-Tang Clan’s high-pitched utility man Ghostface Killah has released new records, starting with the immaculate Fishscale (TMT Review) in 2006 and 2007’s dope-to-the-bone The Big Doe Rehab (TMT Review). HOLD UP, wait a damn minute here! We only gave Fishscale three blue orbs? Damn, Gumshoe, you are cold blooded! Once my hangover wears off and I strap on some reading pants, I’ma gonna peruse this thousand-word treatise on why Fishscale apparently ain’t the masterpiece it really is. But thanks for giving me a goal for the day, Gumshoe! I wasn’t even planning to put on any pants!

Apologies for the digression. Anyway, Ghostface’s predilection for December drops has been as dependable as a Ford truck, and with his new record GhostDeni the Great set for release] December 16, Ghost just got upgraded to Chevy. Though technically a compilation of classic tracks from the past few years, GhostDeni contains a couple of new songs, like “Ghostface Christmas” and “Slept on Tony.” Along with the new tracks, GhostDeni features a smattering of remixes, including new versions of "Be Easy" featuring Ice Cube and "Kilo" with Raekwon and Pusha T. The new record will be available as either a single CD or along with a DVD documentary about Ghost’s Hip Hop Live tour.

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