Author: Press Room

The state they're inone might say, paraphrasing the song from which Belle And Sebastian's entire career began. That there are – and how could it be otherwise? – in this playlist that tries to take stock of what the ever-bubbling Scottish scene is giving birth to in recent years. The “state of things”, therefore, is a zigzag path between well-known but not very well-known names (did someone say Franz Ferdinand? Well, we have deliberately excluded those) such as Arab Strap, the aforementioned Belle And Sebastian and Mogwai, young promises known to a much more limited segment of the public, hidden…

Weezer will hit a rare milestone Aug. 21, releasing their 20th studio LP The Gold Album, after maintaining a relatively stable line-up for most of their existence  — bassist Scott Shriner is still the newest member, and he joined 25 years ago.  Even more impressively, the album — co-produced by Kenneth Blume, who worked Geese’s Getting Killed, and Klas Åhlund — is strong from start to finish, living up to the first two singles, “Shine Again” and “We Might As Well Be Strangers” featuring the band Wednesday.  In a new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, founding members Rivers Cuomo and Patrick Wilson…

For some time now, the public and professionals have been wondering whether the new realities of the post-post-punk scene are overtaking the old school. If the much talked about names that appear on the covers of magazines around the world have at least part of the talent of their myths: Joy Division, Fall, Gang Of Four, PIL, Wire. In reality the point is another, and one certainly cannot avoid addressing it: a new fierce group of bands from all over the world is bringing new life to this musical genre. From the United Kingdom to the United States, from Ireland…

A hard techno remix of Arctic Monkeys’ ‘505’ has been going down a storm at dance festivals this summer – check it out below. The Dutch DJ and producer Xamuel has transformed the ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ closer into a pounding rave edit, replacing its simmering slow-build with heavy kicks, industrial textures and a huge festival drop. The remix has been doing the rounds on social media in recent weeks, with clips showing it being played to huge crowds at techno events and at festivals. Check it out here: @xamuel.music Drop 2! Arctic Monkeys 505 – Xamuel Hard Techno Rework #rave #hardtechno #techno ♬ origineel geluid…

The first things that she took from me were selfishness and sleep She broke a thousand heirlooms I was never meant to keep She filled my life with color, canceled plans and trashed my car But none of that is ever who we are (from “The Mother” by Brandi Carlile) If there is an experience that is really worth spending the infamous English expression on life-changing, this is becoming a parent. It is such a prevaricating and brutal change, which involves so many spheres, which brings into play so many feelings and instincts, that it is difficult to get an…

Always in love with cosmic country, the Byrds, psychedelic folk and jangle-pop, London's Hanging Stars have consolidated their attitude by choosing Scotland as a creative place. For some time now the band has chosen to use Edwyn Collins' recording studios, located in the Scottish Highlands.For this new album, in addition to their trusted producer Sean Read (Dexys), they asked for help from Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub). A restyling which reduced the formation into a more linear quartet. Set aside pedal steel and flutes for a sound more spontaneous and flowing, the Hanging Stars focus their attention on the vocal harmonies…

Oliver Tree’s family have launched a new foundation in the singer’s name to provide grants to young artists. The eccentric singer-songwriter died in a helicopter crash in Brazil on June 14 at the age of 32, in an incident that also took the lives of five others. Now, Tree’s family have launched Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses, in accordance with plans explicitly put in place by Tree during his lifetime. “Oliver believed the most valuable way for artists to master their craft was not through studying, but by physically getting their hands dirty and creating things,” the foundation has said in its mission statement.…

Giuseppe Tornatore's precious documentary on Morricone, “Ennio”, has been in theaters for a few days, and collects an impressive quantity of testimonies of gratitude towards the composer. From Gianni Morandi to Quentin Tarantino, from Quincy Jones to Bruce Springsteen to colleagues John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Nicola Piovani, the film makes clear how many artists are aware of a strong artistic debt towards the Italian author who, perhaps alongside Giorgio Moroder, can be said to be the most influential of the second half of the twentieth century in music. “Ennio” combines words and music, and reviews the artist's entire career.…

In a musical context like the current one, dominated by female pop stars, Holly Humberstone is standing out as one of the highest quality proposals. English from Nottingham, born in 1999, Holly made her debut in a far from simple moment, in 2020, with the EP “Falling Asleep At The Wheel”, followed by “The Walls Are Way Too Thin”, the first work released after signing the contracts with Interscope and Polydor. In 2022 Humberstone wins the Brit Award in the “Rising Star” category. Not bad. A year later the first album “Paint My Bedroom Black” arrives. In 2024 another EP,…

“Ice Ice Baby” rapper, one of the last music artists standing at the ill-fated Great American State Fair, has gig canceled Friday after inclement weather hits Washington, D.C. Vanilla Ice’s performance at the ill-fated Freedom 250 concert was canceled Friday due to “inclement weather” in the Washington, D.C. area. The “Ice Ice Baby” rapper was among the last artists standing at the Trump-backed “Great American State Fair” after the majority of the lineup — including Morris Day, Martina McBride, Young MC, Bret Michaels, and more — all dropped out. Vanilla Ice defended his decision to remain a part of the…