July 18th, 2012

Combining the multifaceted talents of Suede’s Richard Oakes and songwriter-producer Sean McGhee, Artmagic is a collaborative mélange of their respective musical strengths. An osmotic alliance fused by the love of melody.

‘Become The One You Love’ is surprising in that it is not the full throttle rock album that might be expected from someone with Oakes’ credentials. And neither is it a chart-orientated pop album that might be expected of McGhee. It’s a work of contemplative maturity brimming with piano-led ballads and introspective narratives, composed together and nurtured over time.

Noel Gallagher has said his performance at the Benicassim festival with the High Flying Birds last weekend ‘might well have been one of the best shows’ of his career to date.

David Bowie‘s 1972 classic ‘John, I’m Only Dancing‘ will be re-released in the autumn to celebrate the single’s 40th anniversary.

The nominations for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, which aims to find the best Canadian release of the past twelve months, has been unveiled today.

Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ bass player Flea will release the ‘Helen Burns‘ EP he first mooted in 2008 within the next few days.

Pulp, Hot Chip, Warpaint and Grimes will headline the first Coachella Cruise when it sets off on its maiden voyage in December.

Birmingham band The Twang will release their third album later this year.

Paul Latham, Live Nation’s Chief Operating Officer for Europe, has moved to explain organisers’ decision to pull the plug on Bruce Springsteen‘s Hard Rock Calling headline performance in Hyde Park last weekend just as The Boss – and his special guest Sir Paul McCartney – were about to offer their thanks to the crowd.

Pete Doherty has been asked to leave the Thailand rehabilitation centre he entered last month early after becoming a ‘disruptive influence’ on other patients, according to a report in the Daily Mail.