Ennio
MorriconeWith
The Legend of
1900, composing great Ennio Morricone has created another
soundtrack gem: a moving mix of early jazz and sweeping orchestral music. But
as Il Maestro--his all-telling nickname--tells Amazon.co.uk, the soundtrack for
the film by Giuseppe Tornatore (
Cinema Paradiso
) is just one of
his nearly 400 "offspring". In this rare
interview, Morricone
describes his influences, his inspiration and his prolific work.
"These composers I have eaten, drunk and digested
and obviously they've gone into my system, become part of me, my flesh and
blood."
MuseOne of 2000's hottest
breakthrough artists, Muse's debut album
Showbiz shot into the UK's musical
landscape propelled by angst-fuelled singles and an incendiary live show.
Amazon.co.uk contributor Everett True
catches up with the trio
while on tour in Australia.
"I wish people would see that the Internet is just
trying to replace the ideas of religion--connecting people together and not
being alone."
The
MusicEqually influenced by the
baggy scene of the
Stone
Roses, the bombastic blues rock of
Led
Zeppelin and the stadium end of 1980s alt-rock, The Music take
their own road and walk it on their self-titled
debut album. As
Amazon.co.uk
guest editors, the band
pick some of their favourite albums.
"This album turned me onto dance music and
influenced how I play drums."
The
NeptunesAs producers, the Neptunes have worked with everyone, from Kelis
and Ludacris to the Backstreet Boys. With the release of
In Search
Of... their debut album as N*E*R*D, Amazon.co.uk
speaks to them about
performing versus producing, future projects and the meaning behind their
massive underground hit "
Lapdance".
"For me the whole album is about drama I've been
through with some girls. For the rest of the world it's about sex and
politics."
Gary
Numan Hugely influential as a
synth-god of the early 80s, Gary Numan has found a resurgence thanks to the
Sugababes' "Freak Like Me". To celebrate the release of his anthology
Exposure, he joins Amazon.co.uk in the
guest editor spot.
"I loved the image on the front of The
Slider
, with Bolan in the top hat. I was about 13 when it came out and
he was the first big pop star hero that I was old enough to really be aware
of."
Paul
OakenfoldPaul Oakenfold could be
considered the top DJ in the world and has been influential in the scene for
decades, yet he is only now releasing his debut-artist album. He
speaks to Amazon.co.uk
about
Bunkka
and the people who helped make it.
"I'd heard all of these stories about how he loses
his temper and how he once shot his assistant, so it was a little bit scary at
first, but when I met him it was a wonderful experience, something I won't ever
forget."
OrbitalDance world giants
Orbital release the sixth album of their illustrious career.
The
Altogether finds two of techno's pioneers reinventing their
sound once again. Amazon.co.uk
speaks to the duo about
their new album.
"What does Batman listen to when he wants to let his
hair down? He does the Batusi. That's the sort of thing we're
after."
Jim
O'RourkeJim O'Rourke
has produced critically acclaimed albums for
Wilco,
Bobby
Conn and
Sonic
Youth (who he joined as their fifth member). And somewhere
admid all that there was
Insignificance, his third album to be
released through Domino. We just had to
ask him to
talk us through some of
his favourite records.
"I hear the kids really like this Internet thing.
Here's some advice: what the old fogies call 'prog rock'? Don't trust
them."
John
ParishComposer and
multi-instrumentalist John Parish is probably best known for his work producing
and arranging for indie-rock siren PJ Harvey. However, he steps out of her
shadow on
How Animals
Move. As Amazon.co.uk
guest editor, he picks
some of the albums that have inspired him.
"If I was only allowed to have one record, it would
be Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica because that would hold my interest long
after ordinary records had run dry."
Courtney
PineLeading Brit jazzman
Courtney Pine's exploration of incorporating hip-hop into jazz continues with
the release of his new album
Back in the Day
.
Amazon.co.uk interviews the saxophonist about his latest release.
"I've had such a weird career. I still haven't
really been accepted as a jazz musician by the jazz
fraternity."
