Watch “Into Dark” by Kate Havnevik (ft Guy Sigsworth)

Published

11 months ago

June 29, 2021

Da Mixx

Whenever I get wind that Kate Havnevik is releasing new music, immediate excitement ensues. The Norwegian artist/composer is well known for her collaborations with record producer and songwriter Guy Sigsworth (Björk, Madonna, Britney, Imogen Heap, AURORA). When these artists team up, the results are always striking and promote a distinctive, one-of-a-kind originality. The artistry Kate is most interested in is pushing the creative frontiers. Her focus is on experimenting, creative expression and arts in all of its glorious mediums. Her music is of the kind you not only listen to but, more to the point, become come involved with. There is always an overwhelming feeling of wanting to immerse yourself into a Kate Havnevik, Guy Sigsworth creation because the soundscapes are inviting and intoxicating.

Kate’s next studio album will be out this Autumn, and she is already hard at work sharing glimpses of the forthcoming body of work. Following the April release of the track “Starlight Fires“, the second glimpse, “Into Dark“, is by its own admission darker, erring towards the eclectic side of the musical spectrum. Enveloping, atmospherically leaning sounds and warped synths bring on a sense of escapism. Perfectly aligns with the themes of the song, about people re-inventing themselves and wanting to escape. In other words, everyone’s lockdown thoughts.

Keeping very much in touch with the escapist theme. The Gotti Sigurdarson directed music video is no less artful. Weirdly wonderful while being a mesmerising explosion of colour. It is the kind of digital art that lights up our imagination encouraging us to draw our own interpretations. When watching the clip, my mind feels like it is spontaneously going into free-fall. I am seeing bursts of colour everywhere. I instinctively want to run to the bathroom, turn the bath tap on, drop an aroma-therapeutic bath bomb into the hot soak. And feel my mood ascend amid the perfume and bubbles. I guess you could say that my experience with “Into Dark” arouses my senses. The beauty of this piece of music is it will evoke something different for everyone. And that really is what creating art is all about. “Into Dark” is art. Kate Havnevik stepped up yet again.

Connect with Kate Havnevik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.havnevik/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katehavnevik
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katehavnevik/

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Marc Almond announces rescheduled 2022 tour dates

Published

13 hours ago

May 26, 2022

DJ Hittman

Marc Almond tour 2022

Marc Almond has announced his rescheduled tour dates for October 2022 adding extra dates in Liverpool, Buxton, York and Cambridge. Says Almond: “The fans have been so understanding and patient through the endless rescheduling due to the pandemic but now we have confirmed these dates I can’t wait to get back on stage.”

All the original dates are the same venues with the exception of the London Roundhouse show which is being moved to the London Palladium. All tickets bought from the Roundhouse will be refunded. Tickets bought on Ticketmaster will be automatically transferred to the Palladium show.

Almond will be singing songs from his last solo album, Chaos and a Dancing Star, released in March 2020, plus many faves from his extensive catalogue.

His last album was released to critical acclaim just before the pandemic and lockdown. The singer was able to perform a one-off concert in February 2020 at the Festival Hall with co-writer Producer Chris Braide, joined by guest Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.

Marc Almond’s career, spanning over four decades, has seen him receive an Ivor Novello Inspiration Award in 2013, a Brit Award as well as an OBE in the 2018 New Year Honours for his services to arts and culture. His latest album with Soft Cell, *Happiness Not Included, was released earlier this year.

Tickets for the rescheduled dates (Manchester, Glasgow, Bexhill and Birmingham) are on-sale now and available from Ticketmaster.

The new dates in Liverpool, Buxton, York, and Cambridge, as well as the London date, will go on-sale on Friday 27^th May.

All tickets for the rescheduled shows remain valid except for the London show unless purchased on Ticketmaster.

Tour Dates

16 October London Palladium – * VENUE CHANGE

17 October Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – *NEW SHOW

18 October Manchester Bridgewater Hall

20 October Buxton Opera House – *NEW SHOW

21 October York Barbican – *NEW SHOW

22 October Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

24 October Bexhill De La Warr Pavillion

25 October Cambridge Corn Exchange – *NEW SHOW

26 October Birmingham Symphony Hall

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Listen to “Sunburn” by Sylvan Esso

Published

17 hours ago

May 25, 2022

DJ Hittman

I wanted to spotlight Sylvan Esso because electronic music coverage has been scarce of late in the blog. The acclaimed duo have new music out by way of the track “Sunburn“. They are not without a legion of fans. Although I have looked into them frequently, the full extent of their allure didn’t yet rub off on me. They are a band with festival and TV appearances aplenty and a Grammy nomination under their belt. Their popularity is such that I do not think my quiet period of indifference has much impact on them, though.

Since the sun put in an appearance the last weekend. I just felt it appropriate that I slap “Sunburn,” the latest from Sylvan Esso, streaming into my earbuds and seeing what effect it would have on me. Let me begin by first saying I felt the hypnotic pull of the track. (The bass line pops off like the little explosions popcorn kernels make when in a pan, heat on and with a lid firmly in place). This I found immediately transfixing.

Equally, the dreamy vocals by Amelia Meath of the duo exhibit wholly mesmeric properties. “Sunburn” is more of a stripped-back track that relies on a steer of catchy rhythm and blippy electronic bleeps.

When seeking an electronica hit that is uncluttered but still attention-grabbing. Plugging into “Sunburn” by Sylvan Esso is a move well made. Listening to the song, not only are we swept up in the feverish rhythm. We also get a sweet reminder about the after-effects of sitting out in the sun for too long. The metaphor extends much further than that. As the duo’s Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn explain:

“Sunburn” is: eating candy till you’re sick or riding your bike too fast down a hill.”

Coming, from not being sure about them to then having their skittish electronic track, “Sunburn,” firmly stuck in my head. I guess I don’t mind Sylvan Esso after all.

Connect with Sylvan Esso
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SylvanEsso/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sylvanesso
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylvanesso/

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Blancmange announce new album Private View

Published

21 hours ago

May 25, 2022

DJ Hittman

Blancmange have announced details of a new album, Private View, and a return to the label that released the band’s debut album, London Records. Private View is out on vinyl, CD and digitally on 30 September 2022.

The album is being teased by a brand new single, Some Times These, a hook-heavy piece of electronic art-pop that combines Neil Arthur’s vocals with David Rhodes’ guitar and washes of immersive synths.

Benge returns as a key collaborator on album, while Rhodes (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) returns as guitarist, having previously performed with the band on 1982’s Happy Families (as well as several other Blancmange albums).

Private View is set for release on London Records almost exactly 40 years to the day since they released their debut Happy Families.

In their post-punk early days, Blancmange made tape loops and experimental sounds with kitchen utensils, before developing into one of the definitive British electronic pop acts. Since reforming in 2011 (Luscombe had to leave shortly after for health reasons) Arthur has released a staggering 10 albums in the last decade.

“I don’t know whether I’m on a roll but I feel something in me has been released,” he says. “I used to hold back and I didn’t trust myself. While I’m still full of self-doubt I’m now quite comfortable with it. This is it. We’ve only got one time around the block, so make the most of it.”

The past is used as a trigger to create new ideas – one track, Here We Go Go, has been in Arthur’s head since 1980.

“A lot of people are frightened of the future and are quite happy to have a repeat of something that was done before,” he says. “But it’s just not for me. Looking forward you’ve got a hell of a world to try and navigate through at the moment. We’re all moving forward – so we’ve got to try and find some answers.”

An extensive UK tour throughout October, November and December will follow a performance at Grace Jones’ Meltdown in June, with a London show at the Islington Assembly Hall on 9 December.

You can pre-order Private View here.