Firstly lets see what Peter Gabriel is doing this year. Hopefully to be released sometime around September (but as we know with Gabriel, he likes to keep us waiting) will be his continuation of his work with an orchestra. Last year we saw the release of Scratch My Back, which saw Gabriel rework songs of other artists, such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, Talking Heads and Arcade Fire, with use of an orchestra. In my opinion it was the best album of 2010 and should have been recognised more for the groundbreaking album it is. He also embarked on the "New Blood Tour" with the first half of the show having the whole of his latest album being played in its original running order and the second half being some of his own back catalog, all of which was played with a full orchestra. I was lucky enough to catch this show in London last March. It was maybe one of the best concerts i have ever been too! Anyway, this year he is releasing some of his own songs reworked with an orchestra from the second half of last years shows. The album will be called New Blood and as mentioned is due for release later this year. This is great news because seeing those arrangements last year of songs like "Solsbury Hill", "San Jacinto", "In Your Eyes" and many others was a sublime experience and to hear studio versions is to die for! Also Gabriel has announced two dates later this month at the Hammersmith Apollo with the orchestra, however this time the set-lists will just be Gabriel songs. And what makes this all the more exciting is that these shows are taking place so they can be filmed in 3D! And with rumours and talks of later dates being set with the orchestra, this is sure to be a great year for Peter Gabriel fans!
This year also sees a number of Lou Reed live dates, two of which are in England. One is at this year's Hop Farm Festival (2nd July) and the other being at the Hammersmith Apollo (4th July). I am going to see him at this year's Hop Farm Festival and I can tell you I am so excited! Reed is right up there in my top 3 artists (coming after David Bowie and Peter Gabriel respectively) so you can understand my excitement. Lou Reed also turned 69 this year, so it is great to see that he is still going! Wouldn't it be great if we got a new album sometime soon from Reed (not an instrumental one please). But hey its Lou Reed so you never quite know what you're going to get. But I'm seeing him perform and that's all I really care about. Also performing on the same day at the Hop Farm Festival include Iggy & The Stooges, Patti Smith, Morrissey, and more! Now that's a line up!
Now on to Antony & The Johnsons, one of my favourite bands. Last year we were given the wonderful treat of Swanlights (also another one of the best albums 2010 had to offer). This year, to coincide with Record Store Day, we get a new EP also called Swanlights featuring two new songs! Here is what the official website says:
Antony and the Johnsons will release their four track EP “Swanlights” on 10" April 16th through Record Store Day followed by releases through Secretly Canadian and Rough Trade on April 26th. The EP includes a remix of the title track by Oneohtrix Point Never and two exclusive B-sides. The CD version will include the Swanlights music video directed and produced by Sara Hegarty.
1 - Swanlights
2 - Find The Rhythm Of Your Love
3 - Kissing Noone
4 - Swanlights OPN edit
2 - Find The Rhythm Of Your Love
3 - Kissing Noone
4 - Swanlights OPN edit
This is a real and unexpected treat from one of the best bands out there at the moment. I would love to see them live and this EP shouldn't disappoint. I don't think they've ever released anything bad. It says this EP has two new songs but track 2 has been released before as a free download in 2004 i think but maybe it is a new, polished up version. Anyway I will be tracking this down on Record Store Day.
There are also rumours that there will be some new material by the wonderful Kate Bush! This rumour comes from an EMI spokesperson who was quoted in the Guardian newspaper who said it is 'likely' Kate will issue a follow-up to Aerial later in the year, adding that this may not be in the form of a full album release. Now this would be great but one needs to think how real this claim could be. So as a result I'm not letting myself get too excited just yet. Although it has been revealed that Kate is in control of her four albums The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, The Sensual World and The Red Shoes so we should expect to see these reissued later in the year which is all good news!
Finally there is the book BOWIE: OBJECT that is by David Bowie himself! Little information has been given about this but its a book with photos of objects taken by Bowie himself. There will be different covers for the book so making it all the more collectible. To be honest I would rather a new album (I mean its been 8 years this year) or at least release Toy already (something I will discuss in a later post). Anyway at least it shows the man is actually doing something! Let's hope this gets his creative juices flowing to make some more music! I mean he is only the best artist the music world has ever seen...
So I can't think of anymore things happening in 2011 but that is pretty good so far! Anyway its only March, Im certain more stuff is bound to happen. I will let you know! :)
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