4AD News

Watch Bon Iver's 5 Track Live Session Recorded at AIR Studios

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

For the latest installment in the 4AD Sessions series, 4AD and Jagjaguwar have collaborated in order to capture a truly unique Bon Iver live performance. On recent tours fans will have become accustomed to seeing Justin Vernon flanked by an eleven-piece band, with the swell in numbers lending a grandiose element to even his most delicate songs. Sidestepping expectations, the idea Vernon presented for the session was to provide a wildly different experience.

Recorded in AIR Studio's Lyndurst Hall - a building that was originally a church and missionary school designed in 1880 by the great Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse (designer of the Natural History Museum) - Vernon was joined only by Sean Carey, with the pair positioning themselves opposite one another at two grand pianos. Although neither Justin nor Sean’s first instrument is piano, they were able to remodel the songs in a way that showcases their complimentary vocals and, perhaps more strikingly, a seemingly effortless ability to experiment with form and structure.

As such, fans are treated to jaw-dropping interpretations of several songs from both the new album and the Blood Bank EP, as well as a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me'. And interpretation is an apt word, as these songs are artfully abstracted from their original incarnations. Rather than layer the sound as on Bon Iver, Bon Iver, the focus is on paring back, in part evoking the minimalist approach of contemporary classical music, while remaining true enough to the source material to retain those elements characteristic of Bon Iver.

As on ‘Babys’ and ‘Hinnom, TX’, Justin’s trademark falsetto is positioned centre stage, framed by subtle and unexpected instrumental flourishes that render the performance simultaneously weighty and airless. It’s quite an achievement that songs so widely-known and loved in their recorded form are able gain in emotional impact, and stands as testament to Bon Iver’s singular talent.

Watch the full session below or on the 4AD Sessions page here.

Tracklisting
1. Hinnom, TX
2. Wash.
3. I Can't Make You Love Me
4. Babys
5. Beth/Rest

Credits
Director: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard
Lighting & Camera: Nick Wood
Camera Assistant: Urs Robbe, Shift 4
Production Assistants: Lucy Hill and Natalie Williams
Recording and Mixing: Jake Jackson with Brian Joseph, Air Studios

"Hinnom, TX", "Wash.", "Beth/Rest" (c) 2011 April Base Publishing (ASCAP)
"Babys" (c) 2009 April Base Publishing (ASCAP)
"I Cant' Make You Love Me" (c) 1991 BMG Songs, Almo Music Corp., Bird Blues Music, Hayes Street Music (ASCAP)

4AD To Release 4CD Colourbox Best Of Compilation

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:17:00 +0000

To celebrate their 30th anniversary,4AD is to release the ultimate Colourbox compilation. Entitled simply Colourbox (in keeping with the band's albums), it is a 4 CD box set of all their released studio recordings and mixes which has been sequenced by Martyn Young.

Colourbox emerged from the diverse mix of musical cultures that formed the post-punk era, inevitably incorporating synthpop, indie, reggae, dub, soul and funk. They were dance pioneers in the pre-sampling era, where effects were painstakingly assembled in the studio. From 1982 to 1986 they created an eclectic body of work incorporating their influences, but imploded after the collaboration as M/A/R/R/S on 'Pump Up The Volume' went to No.1 - subsequently making them the only number one-hit wonders that never bothered to release a follow-up recording.

CD1 is the 1985 album, Colourbox, and includes all the tracks from the free album that was included with the original 10,000 LPs. The second disc is the 7" singles and the third is the 12" mixes. The final disc has the 4 track mini-album, Colourbox, an unreleased early mix of Arena and eight tracks recorded in session for the BBC.

Pre-order Colourbox
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Tracklisting
CD 1
1. Sleepwalker
2. Just Give 'em Whiskey
3. Say You
4. The Moon Is Blue
5. Inside Informer
6. Punch
7. Suspicion
8. Manic
9. You Keep Me Hanging On
10. Arena
11. Edit The Dragon
12. Hipnition
13. We Walk Around The Streets
14. Arena II
15. Manic II
16. Fast Dump
17. Sex Gun
CD 2
1. Baby I Love You So 7"
2. The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme 7"
3. Hot Doggie
4. The Moon Is Blue 7"
5. Breakdown (Version 1) 7 "
6. Tarantula (Version 1) 7"
7. Philip Glass
8. Looks Like We're Shy One Horse 7"
9. Say You 7"
10. Fast Dump 7"
11. Keep On Pushing
12. You Keep Me Hanging On 7 "
13. Breakdown (Version 2) 7"
14. Tarantula (Version 2) 7"
15. Shadows In The Room
16. Punch 7"
CD 3
1. Looks Like We're Shy One Horse / Shoot Out 12"
2. Baby I Love You So 12"
3. The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme 12"
4. Breakdown (Version 1) 12 "
5. Tarantula (Version 1) 12"
6. Say You 12"
7. Fast Dump 12"
8. The Moon Is Blue 12"
9. You Keep Me Hanging On 12"
10. Breakdown (Version 2) 12"
11. Tarantula (Version 2) 12"
12. Punch 12"
CD 4
1. Shotgun
2. Keep On Pushing
3. Nation
4. Justice
5. Arena (Extended Version)
6. Punch (BBC Session)
7. Kill It (BBC Session)
8. Bleach (BBC Session)
9. Water Up The Tap (BBC Session)
10. The Look Of Love (BBC Session)
11. You Keep Me Hanging On (BBC Session)
12. The Wanderer (BBC Session)
13. Low Rider (BBC Session)

Mark Lanegan Band's New Album, Blues Funeral, Out Now

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:13:00 +0000

“A masterpiece.” - Word
“It’s all brilliant.” - NME 8/10
“Darkly majestic.” The Independent 5/5
“Lanegan’s most accessible to date.” - Uncut 4/5
“His own career-best collection, Lanegan’s time has come.” Daily Telegraph 5/5
“It’s the curveballs rather than the reliable Laneganisms that make Blues Funeral such a powerful return.” - Q 4/5
“No other singer of his generation plumbs the depths so credibly, or does mournful with such grace.” - MOJO – Album of the Month 5/5

Blues Funeral, the new Mark Lanegan Band record, is officially out now. The first record since 2004's Bubblegum, Blues Funeral was recorded in Hollywood, California by Alain Johannes at his 11ad studio, and see appearances from Greg Dulli, Josh Homme et al.

To coincide, Mark Lanegan Band will tour Europe from the end of February, starting in Helsinki and ending in Barcelona. All dates are listed below. Watch the video for lead single, 'The Gravedigger's Song' here or below.

Buy Blues Funeral
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February
26th - HELSINKI, FL - Circus
28th - GRONINGEN, NL - Oosterpoort
29th - AMSTERDAM, NL - Paradiso

March
1st - EINDHOVEN, NL - Effenaar
2nd - ANTWERP, BE - Trix
4th - BRISTOL, UK - Academy
5th - MANCHESTER, UK - Academy 2
7th - DUBLIN, IE - Academy
8th - BELFAST, NI - Mandela Hall
9th - GLASGOW, UK - ABC
10th - LEEDS, UK - Cockpit
12th - BIRMINGHAM, UK - Library
13th - LONDON, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
14th - COLOGNE, DE - Gloria
15th - HAMBURG, DE - Gruenspan
17th - COPENHAGEN, DK - Amager Bio
18th - BERLIN, DE - Columbia Club
19th - WARSAW, PL - Proxima
20th - PRAGUE, CZ - Lucerna Music Hall
22nd - VIENNA, AT - Arena
24th - BOLOGNA, IT - Estragon
25th - MILAN, IT - Alcatraz
27th - BILBAO, ES - Kafé Antzokia
28th - SANTIAGO, ES - Sala Capitol
30th - PORTO, PT - Hard Club
31st - LISBON, PT - TMN ao Vivo

April
1st - MADRID, ES - Sala Kapital
2nd - BARCELONA, ES - Sala Bikini

Grimes Announces European Tour Dates

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:39:00 +0000

With the release of her 4AD debut, Visions, scheduled for March 12th (Visions is released in North America on 21st February through 4AD/Arbutus), Grimes is heading over to Europe in May for a lenghty series of tour dates. Starting in Bristol on 6th, she plays a headline show at London's XOYO before heading to mainland Europe. The tour concludes with performances at Primavera and Field Day. These dates are in addition to a full America tour, all dates listed here.

For a taster of what to expect, check out Grimes' performance of 'Genesis' for Yours Truly here or below.

May
6th - Bristol, Simple Things Festival - Tickets
7th - Glasgow, Berkeley Suite - Tickets
8th - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club - Tickets
9th - London, XOYO - Tickets
10th - Manchester, Islington Mill - Tickets
12th - Laval, Festival Les 3 Elephants - Tickets
13th - Rouen, Le 106
15th - Strasbourg, La Laltierie - Tickets
16th - Paris, La Fleche D'Or - Tickets
17th - Brussels, Nuits Botanique Festival - Tickets
18th - Amsterdam, Paradiso (London Calling Festival) - Tickets
19th - Aarhus, Pop Revo Festival - Tickets
22nd - Oslo, Blaa - Tickets
23rd - Stockholm, Cafeteatren - Tickets
24th - Malmo, Inkonst
25th - Berlin, Berghain - Tickets
26th - Hamburg, Uebel & Gefährlich - Tickets
28th - Rome, Circolo Degli Artisti - Tickets
29th - Ravenna, Hana-Bi
30th - Turin, Astoria - Tickets
31st - Barcelona, Primavera - Tickets

June
2nd - London, Field Day Festival - Tickets
3rd - Dublin, Forbidden Fruit - Tickets

Cocteau Twins Best Of, Stars and Topsoil, Out On Vinyl Now

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:46:00 +0000

Stars and Topsoil, Cocteau Twins’ collection of the best of their 4AD years, is belatedly issued on vinyl this week. The first pressing is on heavy-weight, white vinyl.

Over a career at 4AD that spanned six albums and seven EPs, Cocteau Twins retained an intriguing uniqueness of style that defied comparison. Elizabeth Fraser (vocals), Robin Guthrie (guitars) and Simon Raymonde (bass guitar) were always fiercely protective of their privacy, preferring to let the music speak for itself; it spoke volumes and continues to do so. Following their ascent from alternative novices to universally acclaimed artists, Stars and Topsoil is a fine testament to one of the most original bands to emerge in the last three decades.

This chronological collection is a fitting reminder of why Cocteau Twins are so important: musical visionaries who transcended convention yet achieved massive international success.

Buy Stars and Topsoil
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