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I spoke to a mate of mine in London earlier this evening. He picked up a
copy of the Christmas NME special; Richard is on the cover and there is a
big interview with him inside.
NME interviewed him in a studio in London; his 3 dogs and heavily pregnant wife are there also. Songs mentioned:
The guitar parts on the album have been built up part by part with help from BJ Cole. Drums by Pete. He talks about "feeling" the music and how Song for the Lovers "boggles his mind" and could be Number 1. From what my mate says, it's a good, long interview. Richard is looking good and is talking a good fight (hasn't he always?). |
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Mellow Instant Love (East West) Daft Punk rule the dancefloor, Air command the chill zone and Mellow, frankly, you wouldn't trust them to take charge of the cloakroom on this showing. Hindered by half-English singer Patrick Woodcock's lame-arsed Nick Drake impersonation, the otherwise more exotically named Frenchmen of Mellow specialise in psychedelia so wafer thin and goofily anaemic that, come a half-decent breeze, it would blow back across the Channel. No matter how loud you turn this record up, it still sounds quiet. As hard as you try to find substance in the cartoon trippy horns, campfire guitars and shuffling rhythms, basically, you are doomed not to succeed. Still, of passing interest, here's where The Verve's Nick McCabe finds temporary employment, remixing 'Instant Love' in a gently dubby fashion that, thanks to a heady volley of bulging sounds and indeed an absence of Nick Drake impersonations, pisses all over the original. No 'mad' bloke to contend with, regular scope for waving arms in the air, the chance that the Vengaboys might ring with a remix commission any day now - seemingly Mixmaster McCabe has it made. |
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The Acid House film will finally be released in America by Zeitgeist Films. It is scheduled for August 6th but I think that's in a very limited release. The soundtrack will be released on August 10th with Verve's On Your Own plus new songs from Oasis, Belle & Sebastian, and Beth Orton. |
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THE VERVE ANNOUNCE END OF THE BAND
The Verve end months of speculation this week by confirming that they have mutually agreed to split. Richard Ashcroft is currently in the studio working on a new album, while the other members of the band are preparing their own projects. The split comes after a difficult few months for The Verve, starting with guitarist Nick McCabeıs decision not to finish the bandıs US and European tour dates last summer. "The decision to split the band did not come without a great deal of distress to me personally," says Richard. "I have always given everything to the band and would have continued to do so if circumstances had not made it impossible. "I would like to thank the fans for their loyal support and their phenomenal response to Urban Hymns. I feel more positive now a decision has been made being in limbo isnıt good for the soul. I can now move forward and put my energies into new songs for a new album." Richard has just started work on the new album and it is still too early to confirm any track details or release date. Says Simon Jones, The Verveıs bass player: "The remainder of the band myself, Nick McCabe, Simon Tong - are continuing to work on our own projects, while Pete Salisbury is currently working on Richardıs new album. The rest of the band might even work with each other in the future. If this happens, it wonıt be as The Verve." The Verve, from Wigan were formed in 1990, releasing their debut album A Storm In Heaven three years later. It was followed by the hugely acclaimed A Northern Soul in 1994. Three years later, in the summer of 1997, The Verve established themselves as one of the most crucial English rock bands of all time with the Urban Hymns album which, with its landmark singles Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Donıt Work, dominated the chart for over a year. |