Ms
DynamiteFor the last year she has
been the hottest thing on the garage underground. But now, after spending time
in New York hanging out with members of the
Fugees,
she's back with a
debut album sounding
not unlike a tougher, UK version of
Lauryn
Hill. Amazon.co.uk contributor Jake Barnes
speaks with Ms Dynamite
about her new-found voice.
"Garage is a young London scene. Young people make
money and express themselves out of it. That's why people in power are afraid
of us."
Eighties Matchbox B-line
DisasterHorse of the
Dog--the debut album from Brighton noiseniks The Eighties
Matchbox B-Line Disaster--is the very definition of a short, sharp shock: 10
tracks of violent gutter-blues punk-rock. As Amazon.co.uk
guest editors, the band
choose 10 albums that helped shape their unique sound
"Knowing that people like Arthur Lee and Bryan
MacLean are in the world makes you feel safe."
ErasureErasure, one of the
seminal synth-pop acts of the 1980s and 90s, have released their first covers
album,
Other People's
Songs. To celebrate the occasion, Erasure singer Andy Bell
chooses some of the songs
that have influenced his own life and music.
"When I was a teenager I bought my first packet of
hair bleach, a Miss Harry T-shirt and never looked back. The First Lady of Pop
taught me all about back combing and back lighting."
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.
"A marvellous album full of blues riffing and songs
about alienation and the futility of modern warfare."
Faithless--Sister
BlissFamed for their live
shows and euphoric anthems,
Faithless are one of the hottest bands on the
UK dance scene. Amazon.co.uk
speaks with musician and
DJ Sister Bliss about the new album
Outrospective.
"There are directions our sound will never
take."
Fatboy Slim:
1With his second full-length,
You've Come a Long Way, Baby,
Fatboy Slim's big, beat-heavy, block-rockin' tunes placed him at the heart of
any serious party. Norman Cook (aka Fatboy)'s rock-savvy dance music helps
move contemporary party sounds back to the best elements of 1960s
cock-rock--it's loud, it's drunken and it sounds great. Amazon.co.uk writer
Aidin Vaziri
talks to Cook about his Chemical Brothers dependency and other
influences.
"That's funny, because we thought we ripped you
off..."
Fatboy Slim: 2With a freshly compiled
selection of his favourite tracks by the artists whose music he has sampled
over the years, Norman Cook's
A Break from the
Norm provides a good insight into what makes
Fatboy
Slim sound so unique. Amazon.co.uk
speaks with Cook about
his last album,
Halfway Between the
Gutter and the Stars.
"I am tamed, but it's not really domesticity that's
done it."
FeederThat Feeder have produced
an album in the same year as the tragic death of their drummer is admirable in
itself, but what defies belief is the sheer quality of the songs on
Comfort in
Sound, the band's fourth album. As an Amazon.co.uk
guest editor, Feeder's
Grant Nicholas chooses his 10 favourite albums.
"'God Only Knows' is one of my favourite songs ever
written. A genius of a record."
FischerspoonerMore a performing arts
troupe than a duo of producers, Fischerspooner meld cabaret with synth-pop and
electro-house as part of the electroclash movement. On the eve of the
mainstream re-issue of their debut album
#1, they drop us a
line to tell about some of their
favourite books and
CDs.
"I love the way armour fictionalises the body and it
is incredible to imagine people fighting in these suits."
Roddy
FrameThe former songwriter for
80s sensations Aztec Camera, Roddy Frame has been forging a solo career with
his characteristic wit, intelligence and lyrical maturity. As
guest editor of
Amazon.co.uk, he chooses some of the music, films and books that have
entertained and inspired him.
"Affectionate and funny slice of life in a Swedish
commune in the 70s. One of those 'big-hearted small films' that I love."
Bill
FrisellAs guitarist Bill Frisell
continues to travel the byways of old Americana on his album
Blues Dream
,
he picks some
appropriately vintage albums from the Amazon.co.uk catalogue.
"There's this misconception that country is white and blues is black and his music kind of answers that, without meaning to."
Fun Lovin'
CriminalsMore "gangster" than "gangsta", New York based trio Fun Lovin'
Criminals have made their name with their unique hybrid of rock, hip-hop and
funk. Amazon.co.uk contributor Dan Gennoe
speaks with FLC's frontman
Huey about fame, music and why he's so damn cool.
"I don't wear smoking jackets when I'm chilling at
home. But I'm cool most of the time."
Laurent
GarnierAs the head honcho at the influential F Communications label,
Laurent Garnier has almost singlehandedly pushed France's lush and funky
electronic music into the world spotlight. Amazon.co.uk writer, Mike Pattenden
speaks to him about his new
album
Unreasonable
Behaviour and on his thoughts about turning 30, Daft Punk and
playing host to the creative lunacy of Flat Eric creator, Mr Oizo.
"Making music in this world is hard because
everything is about marketing and sales and not about emotion. That bugs
me."
Bebel
GilbertoDespite being born into a
highly musical family Bebel Gilberto was 33 before she made her debut
album--the critically acclaimed
Tanto Tempo
.
Amazon.co.uk contributor Paul Sullivan
talks to Brazil's most
famous musical daughter.
"I had music lessons without even knowing I was
having them, because I was constantly joining in with my family, improvising
and memorising melodies that my father wanted me to sing."
