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black midi Share Video for New Single ‘Sugar/Tzu’

black midi have shared the music video for their new single ‘Sugar/Tzu’, which appears on their upcoming record Hellfire. The track follows earlier cuts ‘Eat Men Eat’ and ‘Welcome to Hell’. Check out the Noel Paul-directed clip below.

Elaborating on the new song, the band’s Geordie Greep said in a statement:

‘Sugar/Tzu’ imagines that in 2163 it’s possible to see a championship fight between two 600 lb men. Albeit in a so-called ‘Leadweight’ division,” explains Greep. “The fight is between Sun Sugar and Sun Tzu; the latter being a fan of the Chinese general, hoping to channel his strength; and the former looking to continue the lineage of Sugar Ray Robinson, Leonard etc.

Present at their battle is a young boy who stands just over three feet tall. At ringside, he briefly exchanges a glance with Sun Sugar, who, in perhaps an attempt to inspire, comes over to the boy and shakes his hand. It is then revealed, as the contender walks back to the action, that the boy is in fact a killer. He takes a small pistol from his little jacket and shoots the man in the back, honour be damned. The boy believes this not to be a cruel act, but a virtuous one, with his interference giving the audience an ultimate, rare entertainment.

As Sun Sugar hits the deck, the crowd cheer and scream, believing this only to be the result of a particularly vicious shot from Sun Tzu.

There is a little joke here. It is regular for a boxing audience to bemoan an early stoppage, the official stepping in to save a fighter who could’ve gone on. And while there is the surface agreement of most that ‘it was the right thing to do,’ there seems to be often left unsaid the fact that we actually do want to see a brutal knockout. And in the split second where these one-shot, punch-perfect, coma-inducing blows do occur, there is an undeniable rush. The boy in this story feels he is a hero for giving the crowd what they all really want. This is not to say the song is a critique of boxing or anything of the like – I love the sport – but it is an interesting and rare phenomenon worth exploring.

Hellfire comes out July 15 via Rough Trade.

The Goon Sax Break Up

The Goon Sax have announced they are breaking up. “To all fans of the Goon Sax we have some bittersweet news…” the band wrote on Twitter. “After nine years of giving it our everything we’ve decided to draw the curtain on this band. It’s taken us places stranger, more beautiful, and far beyond anything we could have imagined, and brought us to meeting and working with so many special and incredibly inspiring people. Our gratitude to everyone who’s been with us and allowed the madness of the last 9 years to happen is far beyond anything we can palpably express.”

The Brisbane trio have also canceled their scheduled US tour, including shows with Interpol and Spoon as well as Pavement, but “promise we will play one or two more shows in Austalia before we finally say goodnight. For us it feels like a happy ending. We love each other and we love you! Thank you for everything.”

Louis Forster, James Harrison, and Riley Jones were in high school when they released their debut album, 2016’s Up to Anything. Its follow-up, We’re Not Talking, arrived a couple of years later. After signing with Matador, the Goon Sax put out their final album, Mirror II, which was produced with John Parish, last year.

In our Artist Spotlight interview ahead of the release of Mirror II, Jones said: “We’ve known each other for so long now, we’ve spent so much time together. It’s kind of like beyond friendship. It’s more like family, but it’s also something else. Like, I wonder sometimes how I exist outside of this context, because it’s such a huge part of my life. And I think that I maybe lean on James and Louis just as I go about, you know, doing my thing in the world. I kind of always know that they’re there in some way.”

Forster added: “We really learned how to play music from playing together, and there’s a lot of instruments that we play in this band that none of us really played a whole lot before. I feel like I learned how to play lead guitar over Riley’s drumming and Jim’s bass playing, and I think that’s true for all of us. It’s like going to primary school together and learning how to read and write from reading each other’s texts or something.”

Interpol Share Video for New Song ‘Gran Hotel’

Interpol have released a new single from their upcoming album The Other Side of Make-Believe, which arrives this Friday (July 15). It’s called ‘Gran Hotel’, and it’s accompanied by a video from director Malia James. Watch it via Facebook and listen to the track below.

“The lyrics to Gran Hotel tell a story of grief and heartbreak, of a character processing loss,” Paul Banks explained in a statement. “Working with a fantastic camera crew and with the help of two very talented actors, Malia created a powerful video that conveys the events that lead to that loss. It’s a work of art filled with mood and color that we are very proud to share with you.”

Previously, Interpol previewed The Other Side of Make-Believe with the singles ‘Toni’, ‘Something Changed’, and ‘Fables’.

Courtney Marie Andrews Shares New Single ‘Loose Future’

Courtney Marie Andrews has shared ‘Loose Future’, the title track to her forthcoming record, which comes out October 7 via Fat Possum. It follows the previously released single ‘Satellite’. Listen to it below.

“These words slipped out of my mouth one evening while speaking playfully with a lover, and we both agreed they needed to be a song about the unknowns of bracing for any romantic endeavor,” Andrews said of the song in a press release. “We always want to play it cool with love, but deep down our inner children are always afraid. In the studio, Sam Owens and I wanted to create the hopeful and free feeling of that sentiment.”

Carlos Niño & Friends Collaborate With Shabazz Palaces on New Song ‘Dreamsishappening’

Carlos Niño & Friends have teamed up with Shabazz Palaces for the new song ‘Dreamsishappening’, which also features Jamael Dean and Sharada. It’s taken from Carlos Niño & Friends’ forthcoming double album EXTRA PRESENCE – set for release on July 22 via International Anthem. Take a listen below.

An expanded version of the 10-track collection Niño self-released exclusively via Bandcamp in 2020, EXTRA PRESENCE also includes collaborations with Deantoni Parks, Sam Gendel, Laraaji, Jamire Williams, Iasos, and more. ‘Dreamsishappening’ originally appeared on the record, which was called Actual Presence, as an instrumental.

Francis Lung Announces New EP, Unveils New Single ‘2p Machine’

Francis Lung has announced a new spoken word EP, Short Stories, which is out September 23 via Memphis Industries. Today, the Mancunian singer-songwriter has shared its first single, ‘2p Machine’, alongside a video directed by animator Emily Garner (aka Pastel Castle). Check it out below.

During the past year, the former WU LYF member moved to Nantes, France and had a daughter with his wife and collaborator, Coralie. “Those first months following the birth of my daughter were a daze – the days were joyful, but the nights were long,” Lung commented in a statement. “Once I’m up, I’m up, and I could never get back to sleep after feeding or changing the baby. In my semi-delirious state, I would lie awake in bed making up stories in my head to pass the time. ‘2p Machine’ was the first of these, which originated from memories of being a kid on holiday in the arcades on Blackpool Pleasure Beach.”

The Short Stories EP will follow Lung’s 2021 album Miracle.

Short Stories Cover Artwork:

Short Stories Tracklist:

1. Midland Hotel II – The Restaurant
2. Due Date
3. 2p Machine
4. Midland Hotel I – Anne’s List
5. Shadow Shyness
6. Midland Hotel III – Graffiti

Lizzie Reid Releases New Song ‘Warpaint’

Lizzie Reid has unveiled a new song called ‘Warpaint’. It’s the third single from her upcoming EP Mooching – out August 24 via sevenfoursevensix – and was co-written with Andy Monaghan (Frightened Rabbit). It follows previous cuts ‘How Do I Show My Love?’ and ‘Bible’. Check it out via the accompanying visual below.

“‘Warpaint’, to me, is a song that says enjoy today and stop worrying about the details,” Reid explained in a statement. “There are challenges ahead but for now, live in the moment, enjoy making music and go out and experience new things. I feel that its story is something that most people can relate to: you fancy someone who doesn’t fancy you back! It’s not the end of the world because the relationship was over before it ever began. There’s no point in getting upset about such things. It’s a lighthearted song and it gives me a chance to let loose for a bit when I perform it live.”

Mooching will follow Reid’s 2021 EP Cubicle. Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Lizzie Reid.

3 things you probably didn’t know about Bingo

Bingo is a relatively straightforward game to get to grips with. A handler simply pulls balls out of the machine and if you have the matching number, you strike it off. First, you try to complete a whole line, then it’s two lines and then it’s the full grid of numbers – before shouting BINGO if you’ve won.

Latest figures have revealed that there are more than 100 million players around the globe, as well as a few celebrity bingo fans like Sharon Osbourne and Kate Moss. From where it originated to world-record games, there’s a whole host of facts about the game that might just surprise you too.

World records

With millions of players around the world, the largest game actually took place in 2006 in Colombia, when 70,000 people met up to play. Today, they still have the Guinness World Record for it. What’s more, 25 players travelled up Mount Everest in 2009 to play the game, raising thousands for charity. But, it’s not just in-person events that are proving popular. While bingo online might be one of the most popular past times now with a huge number of themed games available, from Deal or No Deal Multiplier bingo to Gold Room, according to one study, the first virtual game actually only took place in the 90s. Today, millions log on every single day to enjoy it and figures show that it’s done wonders for the game’s economy.

Nearly half of online players admit to playing every day with many citing the ease, enjoyment, chat function and community as reasons why. Coca-Cola seems to be a fan of the game too as they organised the largest online game in 2010 – with half a million participants.

Italian origins

Bingo might be ingrained in British culture but the game started in Italy in the 1500s. Although something tells us that they didn’t use phrases like ‘two fat ladies’ for the number 88 and ‘cup of tea’ for number three. In fact, across the waters, bingo was actually played alongside Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia, which was the national lottery. It’s still very popular there today but countries like Germany, Spain, Sweden and even India and Japan now play it too.

Of course, as the game has moved from country to country, a few variations have cropped up. This includes its name. As well as bingo, it’s known as Tombola, Housie and even Beano.

It’s relaxing

What with all the anticipation of hearing your numbers and then shouting bingo, it might surprise you that some experts believe that bingo can relieve stress. In fact, one study revealed that social activities like bingo and going out shopping can actually be calming for individuals and can increase productivity too.

Of course, these are just a few facts about one of Britain’s favourite games. With more than 3 million Brits believed to play the game regularly, and with games online and face-to-face, it’s no surprise that it continues to be so popular – and it doesn’t look like that’s set to change any time soon. Plus, as technology advances and game developers stay busy, we could see new adaptations in the pipeline.

Cat Power to Recreate Iconic 1966 Bob Dylan Royal Albert Hall Show in November

Cat Power has announced a special performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where she will recreate Bob Dylan’s iconic May 17, 1966 show at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in full. The concert took place as part of the world tour that saw him transitioning to playing electric, and bootlegs of the performance mistakenly labeled it as having taken place at Royal Albert Hall a few days later. When it was officially released as a double album in 1998, it was even called The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert.

Chan Marshall will play the first half of the set acoustic and the second electric, as Dylan did. “When I finally got the opportunity to play The RAH, it was a no brainer,” she said in a statement. “I just wanted to sing Dylan songs. And as much as any, this collection of his songs, to me, belong there.” Tickets go on sale to the general public on July 15.

Cat Power released her most recent album, Covers, earlier this year.

The Mountain Goats Release New Song ‘Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome’

The Mountain Goats have shared the second single from their forthcoming album Bleed Out. It’s titled ‘Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome’, and you can listen to it below.

“When I write an album that revolves around a theme, it usually takes two or three songs before I notice what’s going on,” John Darnielle said in a statement. “There’s always one song that becomes the ‘might as well dive all the way in’ song and on Bleed Out that song was ‘Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome,’ written while watching a French action movie way past my normal bedtime.”

He continued: “Once I had the chorus of this one I started asking myself the kinds of questions that usually end up shaping the album: What if I just wrote all the songs on guitar? What if I leaned into the uptempo ones? In recent years I shy away from the fist-punch no-brakes anthemic style but here I figured, you know, no point just wading around in blood if I’m already in knee-deep.”

Bleed Out comes out August 19 via Merge Records. It was led by the single ‘Training Montage’, which made our Best New Songs list.