Legendary trip-hop duo Massive Attack have announced the release of their first new material in three years – an EP of four new tracks due for release on October 6, 2009 from Virgin Records.

The lead song “Splitting The Atom” features Robert Del Naja (3D), Grant Marshall (Daddy G) and Horace Andy, while TV On The Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe guests on “Pray For Rain”.

The Splitting the Atom EP also has remixes of two new tracks; “Psyche” featuring Martina Topley-Bird is given the re-rub by Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid who have recently remixed Bat For Lashes and The Big Pink, while the Guy Garvey fronted “Bulletproof Love” is stripped back to a minimalist reworking by Christoff Berg, who alongside Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid produced the Fever Ray eponymous album.

Buy Music:

Massive Attack on amazon.com

Massive Attack on amazon.co.uk

Massive Attack will release their much anticipated fifth studio album in February, 2010. This time around sees collaborations with Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval, Martina Topley-Bird, Guy Garvey and Tunde Adebimpe.

Over the last three years Robert Del Naja has written and produced soundtracks for a number of films and documentaries, including ‘Trouble In The Water’, ‘44 Inch Chest’, ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ and ‘Gamorra’, the latter for which he won the David Di Donatello Award for Best Song.

Earlier this year, Massive Attack won the Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award at the Ivor Novello Awards.

Massive Attack will headline this year’s Bestival on Friday, September 11th ahead of their first full UK tour in three years that begins on September 17th in London.

Splitting the Atom EP Tracklisting:

1. Splitting The Atom
2. Pray For Rain
3. Bulletproof Love (Van Rivers and The Subliminal Kid Remix)
4. Psyche (Flash Treatment)

For more information on Massive Attack, please visit:

Massive Attack MySpace
Massive Attack Official Website

Over the past few months, a figure so dominant and iconic has returned to the forefront of our social conscious. Model, actress, performer, entertainer, singer, producer, writer, the enigma that is Ms Grace Jones has firmly been reaffirming herself as the superstar she has always been.

Grace Jones on amazon.co.uk

Grace Jones on amazon.com

In preparation for her first album in nearly twenty years, the aptly named ‘Hurricane’, Ms Jones has been performing various festivals including the cult Secret Garden Party and Lokerse Feesten in Belgium.

Read the ‘Hurricane’ review

Her one-off London Show at the Royal Festival Hall on June 19th for Massive Attack’s Meltdown series of concerts saw the excitement for her forthcoming album sky-rocket, as The Times called it a “sensational return to form”, whilst the Telegraph observed that “all around the gawping, whistling, cheering Festival Hall was the sense that this is how a star should be”. The show has been one of the most talked about of the year.

This much-awaited album sees Ms Jones working with various purveyors of pop perfection, having been produced by Ivor Guest alongside Grace herself and includes contributions from Sly and Robbie and Brian Eno.

Much noise has been made around “Corporate Cannibal”, an industrial piece of work, with a ferocious and sinister undertone reflecting modern 21st century life. With a jaw dropping monochrome video by Nick Hooker, Grace morphs, distorts and bleeds into what can only be described as a living example of Dali artwork in constant flux. The video has been racking up countless plays on Youtube et al, whilst fans and musos scramble to get their fix of Ms Jones.

Watch “Corporate Cannibal” video:

The wait, however, is nearly over. More information on the track listing for ‘Hurricane’ has just been revealed.

First up, “This Is”, a perfect pocket of toe tapping classic Grace. “Williams’ Blood”, a dramatic, uplifting and positive track shows Grace’s pop versatility. Next up “Corporate Cannibal”, a seismic bass heavy epic.

The delicate “I’m Crying (Mother’s Tears)” shows a more intimate, personal side to Grace, complimented by the up-tempo, hip swaying “Well Well Well”. Then comes title track “Hurricane”, followed by “Love You To Life” which nods back to Grace’s past whilst swaying rapidly forward.

The reggae infused “Sunset Sunrise” and the spine tingling “Devil In My Life” are all widely affirming glimpses into the psyche of Ms Jones.

In the next few months Ms Jones will also be revealing details of her forthcoming UK tour for 2009 as well as various other exciting projects. With a cultural legacy that has defined the popular culture over the last 35 years, being the muse of Andy Warhol and symbolising the peak of the infamous Studio 54 in New York, to working with controversial American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and collaborating with visual artist Keith Haring, it is a certain that Grace will be working with the equal creatives of the 21st Century. What to expect, as ever with Ms Jones, will be the unexpected.

The ‘Hurricane’ is approaching. The album is due November 3rd 2008 on Wall Of Sound. “Williams’ Blood” single set for release 1st December 2008.

Grace Jones – Hurricane track listing:

* This Is
* Williams’ Blood
* Corporate Cannibal
* I’m Crying (Mother’s Tears)
* Well Well Well
* Hurricane
* Love You To Life
* Sunset Sunrise
* Devil In My Life

Grace Jones Official Website

Newton Faulkner is set to release his cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”, off of his debut album, ‘Hand Built By Robots’ on December 10, 2007.

The first time that I heard the name Newton Faulkner, for some reason I pictured an older conservative type with short hair, playing music that wouldn’t excite.

I was way off. Newton Faulkner is a young, twenty-something with dreads, soulful vocals, catchy tunes and is a brilliant guitarist. That’s what I found out when I first watched the video for his single, “UFO”.

Newton Faulkner is indeed making a name for himself, with a steadily growing fan base, a #1 platinum album and sell-out UK tours. It’s interesting that he would choose to go for a cover of someone else’s song, after the success he’s had with his own original releases. Some might say it’s a daring move, and loyal Massive Attack fans may not be as receptive to Newton’s “Teardrop” – at first.

I’ve been listening to Newton’s version for the last few days. He’s done such a good rendition of the song, that I found it difficult remembering the original, and actually think it sounds more like a Crosby, Stills and Nash song with a modern twist, than Massive Attack’s own version from 1998.

Watch Newton Faulkner – “Teardrop” video:

It’s amazing what Newton has done with the song. He’s given it a rustic feel and great harmonies.

If you played his acoustic version from his live shows for someone who wasn’t familiar with it (there are quite a few live “Teardrop” performances on YouTube), I bet they would find it easy to believe that it could be something from the late 60’s, Woodstock era.

Newton Faulkner – Teardrop on amazon.co.uk

Newton’s live shows are highly recommended!

Shows for 2008 are already beginning to sell out, so if you want to go, book early!

Newton Faulkner 2008 tour dates:

Dates and information could change! Go to Newton Faulkner’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

7 January 2008 Paradiso – Amsterdam
8 January 2008 Doornroosje – Nijmegen
9 January 2008 Tivoli – Utrecht
14 January 2008 Uptown Bar – Minneapolis
15 January 2008 Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto
16 January 2008 Radio Radio – Indianapolis
21 January 2008 Soiled Dove – Denver, Colorado
24 January 2008 Joe’s Pub – New York
29 January 2008 Hotel Cafe – Los Angeles, California
21 February 2008 University SOLD OUT Exeter
22 February 2008 Guildhall – Portsmouth
23 February 2008 Corn Exchange SOLD OUT Cambridge
24 February 2008 Academy – Birmingham
26 February 2008 Academy – Newcastle
27 February 2008 Music Hall – Aberdeen
28 February 2008 Barrowlands – Glasgow
29 February 2008 University – Leeds
2 March 2008 Apollo – Manchester
3 March 2008 University – Liverpool
5 March 2008 Roundhouse SOLD OUT London
6 March 2008 Roundhouse – London
7 March 2008 Colston Hall – Bristol
9 March 2008 St Georges Hall – Belfast
10 March 2008 Dublin Olympia – Dublin

Newton Faulkner Official Website
Newton Faulkner on Myspace

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

The UK’s most successful new singer-songwriter, Newton Faulkner, releases his brand new single “Teardrop” on December 10th, 2007 through Ugly Truth Records. A classic winter-warmer, “Teardrop” is a starkly beautiful, and utterly unique, take on the Massive Attack song and shows both Newton’s magnificent voice and guitar versatility at their mesmerizing best.

The release of “Teardrop” follows the spectacular success of Newton’s Number One & Platinum debut album, ‘Hand Built By Robots’, which has so far spent two weeks at Number One on the UK album chart, as well as being a permanent fixture in the iTunes Top Ten since release (including five weeks at No1).

“Teardrop” comes hot on the heels of Newton’s last two singles, “Dream Catch Me” and “All I Got” which is currently riding high inside the UK Airplay Chart Top Ten.

A true DIY phenomenon (Myspace plays now well over 1 million) Newton has become a genuine grass roots success story as his sell-out EP’s, headline dates and support slots have gathered new fans and rave reviews alike. Newton has sold out all dates on his November nationwide tour and has just announced his biggest UK Tour to date through February and March 2008.

Newton Faulkner “Teardrop” review, watch video + more tour dates

Newton Faulkner 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Newton Faulkner’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

21st February Exeter University 01392 263 518
22nd February Portsmouth Guildhall 02392 824 355
23rd February Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357 851
24th February Birmingham Academy 0844 477 2000
26th February Newcastle Academy 0844 477 2000
27th February Aberdeen Music Hall 0870 169 0100
28th February Glasgow Barrowlands 0870 169 0100
29th February Leeds University 0113 244 5600
2nd March Manchester Apollo 0844 477 7677
3rd March Liverpool University 0870 320 7000
5th March London Roundhouse 0870 389 1846
7th March Bristol Colston Hall 0117 922 3686

24 Hour Credit Card Hotline 0871 2200 260. Tickets are also available from GigsandTours.com priced at £16 for London, £13.50 for other dates.

‘Newton’s cover of “Teardrop” is absolutely spellbinding’ – The Sun

Newton Faulkner on Myspace
Newton Faulkner Official Website