The Band Select Fave Tracks on Latest Edition of Acclaimed Series

For the 22nd edition of what Uncut Magazine calls “the excellent series of bespoke artist compilations”, Snow Patrol presents the world with an impeccably selected and mixed Late Night Tales, which will see release in the United States on November 3, 2009.

Buy Music:

Snow Patrol on amazon.com

Snow Patrol on amazon.co.uk

If you think you know Snow Patrol, think again. Of course, there’s the band who are capable of outselling the Arctic Monkeys, getting numerous nominations for Brits, and monopolising the upper reaches the charts with alarming regularity with their superior song theory and balladeering.

This Snow Patrol has enjoyed platinum sales of their ‘Eyes Open’ album (in both UK and USA) and musical appearances on everything from Spiderman 3 to Grey’s Anatomy. This Snow Patrol has toured with U2, performed at Live Earth and appeared on Saturday Night Live. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.

There’s also another Snow Patrol about which you may know little. The Snow Patrol that concerns us here are the musical aesthetes with fathom-deep record collections, the broad knowledge of the record obsessive and the deft selection skills of seasoned DJs. They are, of course, all of these things and a few more besides.

The Snow Patrol pair assigned with the task here, Tom Simpson and Gary Lightbody, know their way round their collections and are old hands at that grubby DJing caper. And it shows.

The mix is bookended by a pair of beauties, beginning with the unusually ethereal “Observatory Crest” by Captain Beefheart with its chiming guitars and Rhodes-drenched backing track. The end is signaled by John Martyn’s “Sweet Little Mystery” from the big man’s 1980 LP ‘Grace & Danger’. A fitting tribute for a fallen comrade.

But this is not a mix about DJ trickery. There are naturally some grooves in there (A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Food and Holy Ghost! all make appearances along the way), but really this is about song appreciation. The songs are groovy, natch, but it’s the feeling that’s important here whether we’re falling in love with Jim Noir’s daffy lyrics or wondering from which planet Arthur Russell may have landed.

And, as this is Late Night Tales, they always but always have something special for you in the comely form of a newly recorded cover version, this time their own homage to Antipodean heroes INXS with “New Sensation”. As Gary himself queries of their remake: “Why bother if you’re just palely imitating the true form?”

Following his spoken word appearance on Groove Armada’s last Late Night Tales outing, Will Self returns with the second part of his story ‘The Happy Detective’. Adding to the literary bonuses, Gary Lightbody recalls the first time he and Tom Simpson met – via Marlena Shaw – in a short story within the CD booklet.

Snow Patrol’s Late Night Tales, Track Listing:

1. “Observatory Crest” Captain Beefheart
2. “Midnight” A Tribe Called Quest
3. “Dark Lady” DJ Food
4. “I Walk the Earth” King Biscuit Time
5. “Canal Song” Iain Archer
6. “Ordinary Joe” Terry Callier
7. “It’s All Gone Quiet” The Week That Was and Field Music
8. “Last Train” Allen Toussaint
9. “Fancy” Bobby Gentry
10. “That’s Us/Wild Combination” Arthur Russell
11. “Eanie Meany” Jim Noir
12. “Half Asleep” School of Seven Bells
13. “Family Tree” TV on the Radio
14. “Hold On” Holy Ghost!
15. “Download” Super Furry Animals
16. “New Sensation” (INXS cover) Snow Patrol
17. “Next Train” Miracle Fortress
18. “Sweet Little Mystery” John Martyn
19. “The Happy Detective (Part 2)” Will Self

“A stunning DJ mix with scope and appeal. Narrated with a wit and a knowledge of musical styles, this is a great addition to an impressive collection” – MUSIC WEEK

“A superbly educated selection… will satisfy your ears in a variety of moods.” – FUTURE MUSIC

“A quality headphone session” – CLASH MAGAZINE

“Inventive mixing… perfect for late nights”- MIXMAG

Buy Music:

Snow Patrol on amazon.com

Snow Patrol on amazon.co.uk

Late Night Tales

Snow Patrol Official Website

Good afternoon. With the Grammy’s taking place next week (February 8, 2009) and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss announced to perform at the bash, what better time to stoke the Grammy fire and fill you in on the show…

The duo have been nominated for an impressive 5 awards including, Album of the Year, (for their Mercury nominated ‘Raising Sand’) and Record of the Year, for their stunning single “Please Read The Letter”.

Duffy will be in attendance on the night after gaining 3 nominations for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for “Mercy”) and Best Pop Vocal Album (for ‘Rockferry’). She will also be presenting an award.

Jason Mraz will be at the ceremony. He’s been nominated in 3 categories. Jason is up for, Song of the Year (for the irresistible “I’m Yours”), Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Engineered Album.

As well as the success in his homeland, Jason is finally receiving notable acclaim and success this side of the pond. His album ‘We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things’ broke into the Top Ten this week at No. 8. His worldwide smash-hit single “I’m Yours” is currently No. 11 in the iTunes chart, on course for the top Ten.

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Rufus Wainwright is speaking at the Oxford Union on Thursday (Feb 5th), Rufus will field questions in a Q&A session about his first, upcoming opera ‘Prima Donna’ which premieres at the Manchester International Festival – the world’s first festival of original, new work on July 10th, 14th, 17th (evening) and 12th, 19th July (Matinee) at Manchester’s Palace Theatre.

Rufus is also up for a Grammy nomination next Sunday for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (for ‘Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall’).

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In breaking news, Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour goes back on the road this Summer. Already the No.1 biggest grossing tour in history for a solo artist, Madonna kicks off the tour at London’s O2 Arena on Independence Day (July 4th) and then Manchester’s MEN Arena (July 7th).

Never one to miss out, Madonna is up for 3 Grammy Awards too, for Best Dance Recording (for Give It 2 Me), Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (for 4 Minutes) and Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical (for 4 Minutes – Junkie XL Remix).

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Saddened by the loss of singer-songwriter John Martyn, Jersey Budd had some kind words to say: “John Martyn was one of only a few people to leave me absolutely spellbound by his musical genius. It turned out that I was the last person to ever be asked to support John. Whatever I achieve in music, this will go down as one of my proudest moments, and a great honour.”

Jersey continues to impress, and impress is exactly what he did on Wednesday at Water Rats. The singer-songwriter showcased songs from his stunning forthcoming album ‘Wonderlands’.

Jersey releases his infectious new single “Visions Of You”, February 16th.

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Russell Brand is currently on his 28-date, sold out UK tour, but due to phenomenal demand he announced a rare and simply unmissable, stand-up show at London’s O2 Arena, April 17th.

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Politics enthusiast Will Young takes to the Question Time hot seat next Thursday (Feb 5th). Will, who is a fan of the show assured us that he is swotting up on the hot topics of the day.

Will releases his last-ever physical single ‘Let It Go’ from the same titled album on March 2nd.

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Delta Spirit were impressive on Tuesday night at Borderline. The five-piece ripped through a storming set that included their irresistible single “Trashcan”.

They play their last London gig tonight at Koko (Club NME), before heading back to the U.S. They are playing SXSW in March before returning to the UK for more live dates. Their stunning album ‘Ode To Sunshine’ is released March 23rd.