So, I’m trying a new thing this week: A “daily roundup” of everything that doesn’t merit a complete post of its own. It won’t be literally every day (I do go out sometimes you know), but will be a collection of new MP3s, Videos, music etc.

I first got sent Dan Black’s HYPNTZ back at the end of July, and fell in love with it, however couldn’t help but feel it was a tiny weeny bit too cheesy - sounded like some schoolboy rapper from North London trying to be ghetto. Then I heard it on Zane Lowe the other night and then heard the new one, “These Things Take Time”, which sounds like it has a sample of Nelly Furtado’s Maneater in it.

Dan says:

“I knew what kind of music I wanted make, but at first I found it hard to get these conflicting desires to blend well outside of my head. I’d been making these weird remix/mashups for my occasional Djing, so I thought, I’ll take the method I’ve been using for that but use it for song writing instead. The very first thing I tried was HYPNTZ.”

Download and enjoy.

MP3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ
MP3: Dan Black - These Things Take Time

We found out earlier this week that we’re off to Hydro Connect festival in Scotland next weekend, so you can expect a lot of coverage next week from the festival. However, this weekend of course is the mighty Reading and Leeds festivals, where many of the bands I’ll be catching next weekend are playing. Friendly Fires went down a storm, and I can’t wait to see their show after only getting into their album the other week. Meanwhile Crystal Castles caused chaos - I’m not a big fan of them musically, but might have to catch them just for the entertainment factor.

The two bands however that I’m looking forward to most at Hydro Connect are Sigur Ros and Bloc Party. Sigur Ros’ new video for ‘Inní mér syngur vitleysingur’ (’Within me a lunatic sings’)is pretty bland, but my God I love that song! Next Sunday, as the sun sets around Inveraray I can see them completely capping my weekend, and providing an amazing atmposphere. Bloc Party’s album has been on repeat since I downloaded it yesterday morning at 9am - I’m yet to be as hooked as I was by “A Weekend in the City”, but it’s definately a grower (in a good way).

On a slightly different musical side of things, Dido has released a new song ahead of releasing a whole new album in early November. Needless to say, it sounds pretty much the same as her previous two albums of stuff, with a bit more musical accompaniment (is that an orchestra we hear?) Yes, some might say it’s bland and boring, but I love it.

MP3: Dido - Look No Further

Currently hotter than your average chili pepper, Black Kids have announced an October and November UK tour.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, 18th July at 9am.

Wednesday 22nd October - Birmingham Academy
Thursday 23rd October - Oxford Academy
Monday 27th October - Leeds Met University
Tuesday 28th October - Cambridge Junction
Thursday 30th October - London Astoria
Saturday 1st November - Liverpool Nation
Sunday 2nd November - Portsmouth Pyramids Centre

Black Kids have announced a summer UK tour, presumably around the festivals.

Tickets are (I believe) all on sale now, priced at £8 for all dates except for London which is £10 a ticket.

Monday 2nd June - Oxford, Academy
Tuesday 3rd June - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Wednesday 4th June - Glasgow, King Tuts
Friday 6th June - Manchester, Academy 3
Saturday 7th June - Lancaster, Library
Sunday 8th June - York, Fibbers
Monday 9th June - Sheffield, Academy
Wednesday 11th June - Stoke, Sugarmill
Friday 13th June - Colchester, Arts Centre
Sunday 15th June - Norwich, Arts Centre
Monday 16th June - Northampton, Soundhaus
Wednesday 18th June - London, ULU
Tuesday 1st July - Bristol, Thekla
Wednesday 2nd July - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Thursday 3rd July - Leeds, Cockpit
Friday 4th July - Newcastle, Academy
Saturday 5th July - Liverpool, Barfly
Thursday 10th July - Brighton, Concord

Black Francis has announced a string of five UK and Ireland dates in February.

Tickets are on sale for all dates, priced between £15 and £18.10.

Thursday 7th February - Oxford Brookes University
Saturday 9th February - Dublin Vicar Street
Sunday 10th February - Glasgow The Garage (NME Awards Show)
Tuesday 12th February - Manchester Academy 2 (NME Awards Show)
Wednesday 13th February - London Koko (NME Awards Show)
Thursday 14th February - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms

This year’s Vice Live Tour has been announced, which sees Friendly Fires, Black KidsIpso Facto and all take to the road for four FREE shows.

To claim your tickets, you have to register over at Vice Live and then you can get your free tickets to one of the four shows around the country:

Wednesday 30th January - Glasgow ABC2
Thursday 31st January - Manchester Mint Lounge
Friday 1st February - London 93 Feet East
Saturday 2nd February - Bristol Fleece

The Black Lips have announced a string of UK dates next May. The Atlanta four piece will play 12 dates in early May, which will be sure to be hotly anticipated.

Catch them at:

Thursday 1st May - Cardiff The Point
Friday 2nd May - Swansea Club NME at Club Sin
Saturday 3rd May - Dublin Crawdaddy
Sunday 4th May - Glasgow Barrowlands 2
Tuesday 6th May - Sheffield The Plug
Wednesday 7th May - Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Thursday 8th May - Birmingham Club NME at The Place I Love
Friday 9th May - Cambersands All Tomorrow’s Parties versus Pitchfork
Sunday 11th May - Cambridge The Junction
Monday 12th May - Oxford Academy
Tuesday 13th May - Bristol Thekla
Wednesday 14th May - London 100 Club

Frank Black, legendary frontman of the Pixies, has announced a trio of shows next February supporting his ‘Bluefinger’ album, inspired by the Dutch rocker and painter Herman Brood, which he released in September.

Tickets aren’t on sale yet, and I’m not sure when they are, but am sure it will be soon. How helpful of me.

Sunday 10th February - Glasgow The Garage
Tuesday 12th February - Manchester Academy 2
Wednesday 13th February - London Koko

Atlanta’s The Black Lips are on the road again. They’re doing a quick 10 day tour in early November around the UK. There isn’t a London date yet, so expect that to be announced soon. Hopefully.

Tickets are on sale now priced between £8 and £12.

Saturday 3rd November - Leeds Nasty Fest
Sunday 4th November - Dublin Crawdaddy
Monday 5th November - Belfast Speakeasy
Tuesday 6th November - Aberdeen Lemon Tree
Thursday 8th November - Glasgow ABC2
Friday 9th November - Newcastle Digital
Sunday 11th November - Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Monday 12th November - Leicester Charlotte

Manchester four piece Nine Black Alps have announced an October tour of universities around the land.

Tickets are on sale for some dates now, others to come shortly.

Monday 8th October - Manchester Academy 3
Wednesday 10th October - Sheffield Foundry
Friday 12th October - Preston 53 Degrees
Sunday 14th October - Liverpool Stanley Theatre
Monday 15th October - Loughborough Room 1
Tuesday 16th October - Leeds Mine
Thursday 18th October - Hertfordshire Font
Friday 19th October - Warwick Marketplace
Saturday 20th October - Cambridge Academy
Sunday 21st October - Brunel University
Tuesday 23rd October - Norwich Waterfront
Wednesday 24th October - London King’s College
Thursday 25th October - Bournemouth Old Fire Station
Friday 26th October - Reading 3sixty

Photo is taken from media eater’s flickr stream under the creative commons license.

A couple of months ago I featured Bikini Black Special as a “band to watch in the future”, after I was involved in the judging of the Road To V bands through Virtual Festivals. Now they’ve sent me their first demo CD, which sounds exceptionally professional for a debut effort.

A mix between the urgency of Arctic Monkeys, early Razorlight (before they got shite) and the tales of Hard-Fi, BBS are never going to win innovation and originality awards. However what they lack in originality they more than make up with in style, talent and sheer songs.

Opening with “Easy, Faster” the lads have a fine opening track, combining northern grit with a fine tune, bemoaning how “you’ve got it so easy”. Quickly builds into an unstoppable juggernaut, before plunging straight into the second track, “Cuffs + Kisses“.

Vocalist Stevo sounds like a mixture of Arctics’ Alex Turner and The Enemy’s Tom, channelling his bitterness and anger into the track – calls of “the same old pathetic shit… You’re good for nothing, you don’t know what you’re missing” making a great anthem for jilted youth.

“Shoot Me Now” has a memorable yet simple chorus with a distinct feeling of yearning throughout the track, reminiscent of their MySpace track “Do What You Do”. Live I’d imagine live this track is one of the standout tracks of the collection.

“Outside Tonight” is a fine closing track to the collection – slower than the rest, a great love song that just begs for repeated listening.

Radio friendly, Bikini Black Special’s demo may not be the most original ever created, but it sure is a fine start to a career that could bear many fruits.