I quite like this teaming up of Mr Hudson and Rosie Oddie, the daughter of one of seminal post-Python 70s comedy trio The Goodies, the one with the beard and penchant for birds. The music remind me of Swedish indie rock band The Sounds and I really like that band so thought I would give BIGKids a chance. Delving a little deeper I found a cover of Etta James’ I’d Rather Go Blind, which showcases Oddie’s raspy vocals perfectly. In their original tracks it appears Hudson produces the music, plays the keyboards and sings on all the tracks and Oddie also sings and co-writes the music and apparently ‘bounces round like a lunatic live’!
Mr Hudson assures fans that he is still working on his next solo record, this is just his newest project having worked as a producer and writer with a number of people over the years.
We had a chat with Rodrigo from the popular Spanish guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela about their new album Area 52 and what is coming up next for them. Watch the trailer at the bottom of the post for the DVD that comes with the album. Our chat is an interesting read, you can listen to a preview and make sure you get a copy of the album Area 52 here.
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Milky Tea Kid:You have quite an exciting new set up with your new Cuban band, the C.U.B.A both musically and performance wise. Was this a natural progression for you, to go from a guitar duo to a full band? Rodrigo: “We wanted to do something different after the first album and 11:11; we were curious about Cuba and the music that comes out of there; so it felt like an interesting experiment in the first instance; but then it grew into something bigger. I wouldn’t say that it is our new direction or anything like that; that’s not how we work”.
MTK:How did joining up with an amazing band of musicians come about? R: “Through YouTube and Skype mostly. I had an album by Alex Wilson, the guy we worked on the arrangements with; which our live agent gave me years ago. Once we had Alex on board to arrange and play piano; we worked with the studio in Cuba who sent us links of local players to check out online”.
MTK:Is it a completely different experience for fans of Rodrigo y Gabriela as a guitar duo? R: “I hope so and I hope they come with us on it; both on the album and in the forthcoming live shows”.
MTK:The new album, Area 52 was recorded in Havana during the summer, did the location add a lot to the feel and vibe when recording with this new band? R: “It was a key factor; we had never been there before; and it was a step into the unknown. ‘Area 52′ itself is a little joke about the musicians and the culture being completely alien to us; once we got to know them; we were blown away by their musical ability”.
MTK:You revisit nine of your original compositions on this album with your thirteen piece Cuban band, why did you make the decision to use previous tracks and rearrange them? R: “The record label were asking when we would record a new album. We had done two movie soundtracks after 11:11; and we were touring for two years promoting it. Area 52 was an opportunity to take a break and do something fun and different”.
MTK:Can you give us some more ideas on what is on the new album? R: “It’s nine songs taken from the self titled first album and 11:11, totally rearranged for two guitars and a thirteen piece Cuban orchestra; it was co-produced with Peter Asher in Havana; and then mixed in LA with Rafa Sardina. We had great guests involved: John Tempesta from White Zombie, Anoushka Shankar and Carles Benavent; as well as some of the best young players in Cuba”.
MTK:You have a Making Of Area 52 DVD which will also be released, the trailer already shows an interesting insight into how the album came together. Do you think the DVD will help explain the progression from the guitar duo people know you as to this new sound? R: “We like to give the fans an insight into the creative process; we did bonus DVDs with the two previous studio albums, so it seems right to do it again”.
MTK:After the release at the end of January, what have you got planned for the rest of 2012? R: “We are coming to Europe in February for the first live shows with the Cuban band; starting in Dublin on February 19th. Then we have a big US tour and then we will be into the festival season; so lots of touring coming up”.
City and Colour at The Roundhouse. What can I say? It was fantastic. The building was packed long before Dallas Green took to the stage, with people talking excitingly about the fact the gig was to be recorded and released ready in time for when the encore ended. The gig was one of only three shows on the European tour to get the special live CD treatment and the band didn’t disappoint.
The opening track was straight from the latest album Little Hell and we were treated to a wide selection of songs from debut album Sometimes, follow up Bring Me Your Love and the latest outing. The latest single Weightless was one of many highlights from the first half of the show with it’s catchy guitar riffs and sublime vocals. Actually, what City and Colour tracks DON’T have sublime vocals…?
The main highlight of the gig for me was the acoustic solo section at the half way point of the set. I absolutely love his first two albums which were more acoustic guitar based compared to Little Hell, so to hear songs like Day Old Hate, Body In A Box, What Makes A Man and (my favourite song) The Girl performed this way was unbelievable and the atmosphere in the venue was out of this world. The applause seemed to be twice as loud during the acoustic section.
The band returned to power through new tracks like Fragile Bird and Sorrowing Man which already feel like they have been played live for years on end and not tracks which were only released four months ago. As the band departed for a second time, Dallas returned for the encore and played Comin’ Home and Sometimes, the former played acoustically, while the band returned one final time for an electric version of the final track from the album Sometimes. It was brilliant.
This was my second time seeing City and Colour after being at the HMV Forum in London last year, and I can’t wait to go again whenever he returns. Just like Iron & Wine, Dallas is picking up a big following here in the UK which will definitely result in future tours being planned. It was absolutely fantastic.
This is something I wouldn’t have seen coming from Linkin Park, that’s for sure. The band performed it when they opened their encore at the iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse in London to a 3000 strong crowd. Not only did they perform this cover, but they are releasing it exclusively on iTunes (get the link below).
They have also released the iTunes Festival EP, featuring Rolling In The Deep, Waiting For The End, The Catalyst, Papercut, Bleed It Out and current single Iridescent.
