The
Coral Like the artwork for
their eponymous
debut, the Coral's music is a surreal collage. Amazon.co.uk
contributor Louis Pattison
speaks to guitarist Bill Ryder Jones about the
band's eclectic taste in music and why he thinks the Coral are creating such a
stir. [Please note: this interview contains strong language.]
"To be honest, we're the most exciting new band in
the country. I know that, because I've heard all the others, and they're not
doing anything we haven't heard before."
Cosmic Rough
RidersRecalling the jangly psychedelic pop of the Byrds and the gentle
folk sensibilities of Fairport Convention,
Enjoy the Melodic
Sunshine is a wonderfully optimistic album to melt the hardest of
hearts. Amazon.co.uk contributor Andrew Mueller
speaks to Daniel Wylie and
Gary Cuthbert.
"Glasgow is a haven for happy 60s music. It probably
comes from country music. If you go to karaoke in Glasgow, you'll always see
old women singing Patsy Cline songs."
Robert
CrayJust as
Shoulda Been Home
underlines Robert Cray's commitment to the crossroads of soul, gospel and the
blues, his
10 favourite albums from the Amazon.co.uk catalogue represent a varied selection.
"Albert King was a fantastic guitar player. He was a
big man, with a big sound. He pulled the strings so hard that it's amazing he
had anything left to play with."
The
DamnedContemporaries of the Sex
Pistols and the Stranglers, the Damned were at the forefront of the UK punk
movement. Still going strong more than 20 years later, the Damned's Captain
Sensible and David Vanian pick their favourite albums as Amazon.co.uk
guest editors.
"Sure--a lot of "prog rock" is appalling
twaddle... right up its own bum for pomposity and self-indulgence, but this
record is inspired."
Dan the
AutomatorSan Francisco producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura, creator of
the highly acclaimed futuristic concept album
Deltron 3030 and part of the
Gorillaz motley crue, has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and
indie. Amazon.co.uk editor Caroline Butler caught up with Dan the Automator to
talk about Tommy Boy, Gorillaz and what he thinks of UK hip-hop.
"You know... the US doesn't have as good a taste in
the music. Europe has the best taste and the worst taste in
music."
Craig
DavidCraig David's debut album
Born To Do It scored
a massive hit in the UK charts and brought UK R&B to everyone's attention.
Amazon.co.uk caught up with Craig to discuss, among other things, fame, how he and
Artful
Dodger met, and the musical influences that shape his
sound.
"UK garage has been part of my youth, and the
Latino/Spanish guitar vibe, I've been into that for such a long time now. I
used to play Spanish guitar when I was younger; we did lessons at school."
Depeche
ModeHaving finally exorcised
the demons that haunted their 1990s releases, Depeche Mode return to form with
Exciter, an album that lyrically
speaks of the journey they have travelled, while musically staying true to
their unique synth-pop sounds. Amazon.co.uk
speaks with keyboardist
Andrew Fletcher.
"All we try to do is fit the atmosphere around the
songs. Explaining them can take a little of the mystery away."
Placido
DomingoPlacido Domingo has spent
more than three decades at the top of his profession. Though still performing
and recording, he has recently turned his hand to conducting and holds artistic
directorships of two major international opera houses. Amazon.co.uk's Antonia
Couling
catches up with him.
"I think music will become more popular through the
Internet--no doubt about it. It's the record industry that is going through a
difficult time at the moment."
Richard
DorfmeisterPeter Kruder and Richard
Dorfmeister are pioneers of the hot, sensual brew of atmospheric music known as
downbeat. Both have recently recorded new material under separate aliases.
Kruder as Peace Orchestra and Dorfmeister as Tosca. Amazon.co.uk's Tony Marcus
talks to Dorfmeister in
Vienna about the Tosca project and about that elusive Kruder and Dorfmeister
debut album.
"We'd rather release nothing than release something
just for the money."
Dreem
TeemUK Garage has been rising
from the underground over the past few years thanks to DJs such as the Dreem
Teem. Amazon.co.uk
speaks with one of their
members, Mikee B, to discuss the compilation
Shake it
Up which he helped put together as a definitive sound of UK
Garage.
"In my opinion there are garage tracks which are
produced for a commercial market, like the So Solid's, MisTeeq's etc, but you
will also usually find a club mix which may have already done its rounds in the
clubs months previous."
