Back to our weekly recap after a seven day hiatus, we began the fortnight with the shocking news of Mark Linkous aka Sparklehorse joining the tragic list of great artists who’ve put an end to their own life. Sparklehorse was a multiple Rober Award winner whose career has been spiked by a long story of depression; drug problems and bad luck. The release of his last opus, ‘Dark night Of The Soul’, was abruptly interrupted by his record label claiming copyright problems. Linkous was surrounded by a constellation of rock stars with David Lynch adding exclusive photographic and visual content to the project. The album was just recently given the go ahead.
Alex Chilton, the legendary member of The Box Tops and Big Star also passed away at 59. The cause is rumoured to have been a heart attack, right before a SxSw live appearance!
More shock arrived via Phil Spector launching an appeal against his murder conviction and Eddy Grant accusing Gorillaz of plagiarism in the cartoon band’s new single ‘Stylo’.
Better things came courtesy of Fleet Foxes’ lead singer Robin Pecknold, who offered us a cover of Joanna Newsom to celebrate he is soon to be touring next to our favourite harp player.
Elsewhere, Beck carried on his prolific record club, recruiting Brooklyn female songwriter Annie Clark, of St. Vincent fame; abrasive art-rock trio Liars, and reborn Tropicalia greats Os Mutantes to perform INXS breakthrough album ‘Kick’ in its entirety: after his previous reinterpretation’s of Velvet Underground & Nico; Leonard Cohen and Skip Spence’s creative landmarks.
A video that showed an entire song was the latest instalment in the clever promotional stunt that is ‘iamamiwhoami’. Who was it? Lykke Li? Christina Aguilera? Polly Scattergood? It seems that it all belong to Swedish singer Jonna Lee. Another, better known, Swedish popette unveiled some rather ambitious plans for 2010. Robyn will release her new material in three mini albums/ep’s during the year. A new song, ‘Fembot’ is currently streaming at her website.
LCD soundsystem carried on flooding the world’s media prior to the release of their long awaited, and apparently last ever third album. James Murphy unveiled a new track as part of an Yves St. Laurent fashion parade. Elsewhere, the first taster of his soundtrack for Noah Baumbach new movie ‘Greenberg’ leaked online. ‘Oh You (Christmas Blues)’ sounded like Suicide performing a dark ballad.
The world of soundtracks gave us more reasons to be cheerful. Members of Goldfrapp and Portishead announced their joint project to write a new score for the classic film ‘The Passion Of Joan Of Arc’; Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood follows his notable debut as soundtrack composer in ‘There Will Be blood’ by writing the music for the long-awaited adaptation of Murakami’s literary classic ‘Norwegian Wood’.
Two brand new compilations were also newsworthy: a Box Set comprising all albums of Krautrock masters Neu! was announced; as it was David Holmes’ best moments, including some of his remarkable film music and completed with 3 new songs; The Girlfriend Experience, Your On Fire (Too Fat) and The Lower Orders; 1 brand new remix of ‘The Ballad Of Sarah And Jack’ by Geese and an unreleased mix of ‘Living Room’ by Kevin Shields. ‘The Dogs Are Parading’ is the name of the anthology.
After last week’s new release bonanza, calm has been somehow restored. The last days have brought fewer streaming premieres. Among the most interesting ones: Goldfrapp’s 80’s electro-pop infused fifth album ,’Head First’, likely to become a career peak for the duo thanks to such gems as ‘Believer’ or ‘Alive’; and the ‘Volume 2’ of the collaboration between Americana troubadour M. Ward and Hollywood starlette Zoey Deschanel is streaming at the usual NPR destination.
Autechre came back to their more accessible ways with ‘Oversteps’ giving further signs of what looks like 90’s electronica getting back into trend; Italian electromeisters Crookers finally unveiled their star-studded and slightly disappointing album ‘Tons Of Friends’. Still, it’s got a few highlights that will be strong contenders for summer song 2010. Finally, Norwegian shoegaze purveyors Serena Maneesh were previewing their debut for the 4AD stable “Abyss In B Minor”.