Month: April 2011

The solid book we wrote can now be found again…

There’s not much you can say about this book without saying too much…But, if you know nothing at all of Nat Tate: American Artist, 1928-1960 by William Boyd, then check out our piece from February last year. (02.10.2010 NEWS: WILLIAM BOYD REMEMBERS NAT TATE IN THE GUARDIAN)

However, if you’re the sort that likes surprises, then buy the just re-published Bloomsbury hardback edition (see central cover in above montage), which has identical content to the original (above left), which was first published by David Bowie’s 21 Publishing company on the eve of April Fool’s Day in 1998.

Then, once you’ve read Nat Tate‘s tragic story, check out aforementioned news item.

I wrote a song for you…

Very nice to see a double page spread in the May issue of Classic Rock marking the fact that David Bowie is one of the artists selected in the magazine’s 100 Greatest Songwriters poll.

The feature itself takes the form of an interview with David on the subject of songwriting. Here’s the standfirst: David Bowie, one of the most consistently great British songwriters of all time, explains his creative process, and tells us why time and place matter.

“Crikey!”, I thought to myself, “Has Classic Rock managed to get an exclusive David Bowie interview?”. But then my eye settled on the following credit: Words: Bill DeMain. It seemed a very familiar name and once I started reading, I seemed to recall the interview too.

The original interview appeared as part of a ten-page feature in the September/October 2003 edition of Performing Songwriter. As you can see from the cover below, marriage, music and art were among the topics originally covered in this interview.

In fact, if you’d rather read the full thing, as opposed to the Classic Rock edit, and you don’t already have the magazine, it’s still available from the Performing Songwriter website

DAVID BOWIE ?GOLDEN YEARS?  APP & E.P. RELEASES

Following the huge success of the Station To Station Deluxe Box comes the Golden Years App & David Bowie vs KCRW Golden Years remix E.P.

Unique Opportunity for Fans To Remix and share Their Own Version of ?Golden Years? with New iPhone Application

Following the release last year of the David Bowie ?Space Oddity? EP Application, on June 6^th EMI will release the ?Golden Years? App, and Golden Years remix E.P. on CD, 12″ & Digital Download.

Ever keen to push the boundaries and pioneer technology,

Bowie has, once again, afforded his fans the unique opportunity to access original multi-tracks, allowing them to become remixer and create their own version of ?Golden Years?, only this time they?ll also be able to share their remixes with friends.

Fans can make their remixes, using eight stems (bounced down from the original 16 tracks), featuring Bowie?s lead vocal, 12-string guitar, bass, drums, guitar, harmonium, percussion (including blocks, congas, claps) and backing vocals. Additionally, they can SHAKE the player (see Notes to editors), which allows for random track selection and “shuffles” track mixes. History is made here for you to discover, remix, and enjoy with friends. The stems for this App were specifically created by ?Golden Years? and Station To Station’s original producer Harry Maslin.

To coincide with the launch of the App, EMI will release a ?Golden Years? E.P. ? available on CD, 12″ and digital download – featuring the original single version and four brand new remixes of the track created by DJ’s Jeremy Sole,

Anthony Valadez, Eric J Lawrence, and Chris Douridas from the US radio station KCRW. These remixes will be exclusive to this E.P. As Station to Station was recorded in Los Angeles, it was fitting for some of KCRW?s leading tastemakers to take on the task. Each DJ took a unique path in recreating, deconstructing or re-imagining the classic song.

http://www.kcrw.com/bowie.

“Reinterpreting a timeless classic like ‘Golden Years’ certainly wasn’t taken lightly by our DJs,” said KCRW Music Director and DJ Jason Bentley. “It’s an incredible honor and a massively intimidating challenge at the same time. It’s important to note that two of our four featured DJs ? Eric J Lawrence and Chris Douridas – had no previous experience with remixing, yet they all brought a fresh perspective to the song and had fun doing it.”?

Click

HERE to watch a brief video about KCRW?s “Golden Years” remixes with comments from Jason Bentley and the four remixers.

was the first single released from the album Station To Station – released in edited form in November 1975 (RCA 2640), appearing the following year in full-length on the album. This single version has been subsequently released on various Bowie compilations including the Best Of Bowie LP, The Best Of David Bowie 1974/1979 and the multi-territory differing Best Of Bowie. The single peaked on the singles charts at number 8 in the UK and number 10 in the US.

iKlax multitrack?software for Mac or PC, (www.iklaxmusic.com/davidbowie) allows fans the opportunity to use the original multi-track stems from the EP without complicated home studio software. Users simply download the iKlax “Creator” software, and follow the simple steps to remix and make the iKlax song file.

All details will be on

www.davidbowie.com

Wish upon, wish upon, day upon day, I believe oh lord, I believe all the way…

I’m sure you all remember the Golden Years remixes created by Los Angeles public radio station, KCRW, that we told you about last year. (09.29.2010 NEWS: STATION TO RADIO STATION – KCRW REMIXES GOLDEN YEARS)

As you’re no doubt also aware, the mixes have been available to stream since we posted that story, but now we can exclusively reveal that you can own them in the good old tactile CD and 12″ vinyl formats, not to mention as digital downloads to boot.

The Golden Years David Bowie Vs KCRW EP will be released via EMI on June 6th and will also include the single version of Golden Years.

David Bowie vs KCRW Golden Years EP tracklistings

CD & Digital Download
1. Golden Years (Single Version) (2002 Digital Remaster)
2. Golden Years (Anthony Valadez KCRW Remix)
3. Golden Years (Eric J. Lawrence KCRW Remix)
4. Golden Years (Chris Douridas KCRW Remix)
5. Golden Years (Jeremy Sole KCRW Remix)

12″
Side 1
1. Golden Years (Single Version) (2002 Digital Remaster)
2. Golden Years (Anthony Valadez KCRW Remix)
3. Golden Years (Eric J. Lawrence KCRW Remix)
Side 2
1. Golden Years (Chris Douridas KCRW Remix)
2. Golden Years (Jeremy Sole KCRW Remix)

All four remixes can be streamed online now, exclusively at www.kcrw.com/bowie

Go here to watch a brief video about KCRW?s Golden Years remixes with comments from Jason Bentley and the four remixers.

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I’m sure you also remember the wonderful Space Oddity iKlax application released back in July 2009. (07.08.2009 NEWS: 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPACE ODDITY EP AND REMIX FACILITY & 07.20.2009 NEWS: SPACE ODDITY 40TH ANNIVERSARY DIGI EP AND APP OUT NOW)

Well, now Golden Years is getting the same treatment. David has, once again, afforded his fans the unique opportunity to access original multi-tracks, allowing them to become remixer and create their own version of Golden Years, only this time they?ll also be able to share their remixes with friends.

Fans can make their remixes, using eight stems (bounced down from the original 16 tracks), featuring Bowie?s lead vocal, 12-string guitar, bass, drums, guitar, harmonium, percussion (including blocks, congas, claps) and backing vocals.

Additionally, they can SHAKE the player which allows for random track selection and “shuffles” track mixes. These stems were specifically created by Station To Station‘s original producer, Harry Maslin.

Also due on June 6th, the Golden Years App has the following features…

~ Multitrack view of the original song
~ Activate / deactivate stem tracks
~ Change stem tracks volume
~ Create and save your own mix
~ Export your mix as an mp3
~ “Shake to mix”: launches a random mix every time you shake your iPhone
~ Play/Pause/Repeat
~ Share with friends

You can find out more about both the Golden Years App and the EP under today’s date in the Press Release section above.

Stay tuned for updates including a walk-through video of the Golden Years App.

Re-exploding you…

I caught the Duncan Jones Source Code preview / MOON double bill at the PCC in London during the week and I have to say that, like MOON, there’s really not much you can say about Source Code without giving things away.

Anyway, the film is released in the US and the UK today (and Russia yesterday) so if you’re in any of those places, you can go check it out for yourselves now. Here are a few more in-theatre dates courtesy of manmademovies…

31 March ? Russia
1 April 2011 ? UK & USA
7 April 2011 ? Czech Republic
8 April 2011 ? Estonia & Turkey
20 April 2011 ? France & Spain
21 April 2011 – Hungary & Malaysia & Singapore
29 April 2011 ? Norway
5 May 2011 ? Australia
13 May 2011 ? Finland
2 June 2011 ? Germany
9 June 2011 ? Netherlands

When you do see the film look out for those DJ clever touches including a cool nod in the direction of MOON.

STOP PRESS: Had a communication from the Jones’ camp and have been given permission to announce an upcoming limited edition DVD release of the stop/start animation shorts that the young Duncan made with his father.

Entitled CONtenders Volume 2, the DVD will only be available in an edition of 2001 copies by mail order from manmademovies and will not be reissued. Stay tuned for updates and an announcement on aforementioned website.

And I looked and frowned and the monster was me…

I’m sure those of you looking forward to the release, finally, of TMWFTE on R2 BD are getting a bit revved ahead of Monday’s release. (03.07.2011 NEWS: TMWFTE REGION 2 BLU-RAY PUT BACK TO APRIL)

Released via Optimum, the company has come up with a cool dealer incentive promotional pack which lets the wearer look just like David Bowie’s alien character in the film…kind of.

A video wholesaler friend of mine has been in touch with details and has kindly supplied a scan of the sticker on the box the set comes in…

However, due to the individual pieces not being tailor-made to fit each recipient of the set, he has come to the conclusion that it must have been based on David Bowie’s original dimensions.

He can’t get on the skull wig, which apparently covers the ears too, and he has already split one of the false finger tips trying to get those on.

The ‘contact lenses’ are actually thin transparent stickers that go over the closed eye-lids. These were the most successful part of the kit for him, but he reckons they wouldn’t bear repeated use.

Though I have begged him for a photo wearing the items, he said he will wait till he can get a picture of his wife wearing them instead as she is fairly petite and more likely to get the stuff on.

I’ve yet to see a set on eBay and I’m guessing the kit must have been made in very small quantities. However, if you have a spare, please get in touch as I would pay good money for this…and mine would stay in the box!

Come back on Sunday for your chance to win one of five TMWFTE R2 Blu-ray discs courtesy of Optimum.