news

News: Justice return with 'Civilization'

Having been on hiatus for four years Justice are back with a new single (artwork left) and an as yet untitled album. The single drops on Ed Banger / Because on April 4 but you can check it out now as it is used in the Adidas advert below, directed by Romain Gavras, who also directed Justice's controversial 'Stress' video.

I can't hope but feel a little disappointed with this... Firstly the Adidas tie-in just feels a bit lame - an advert for a sports brand is hardly the most exciting way to announce your return - and more importantly it just sounds so very like the first album.

Hopefully hearing the full track (and the rest of the album) will prove us wrong...

BP x

 

News: Junior Boys to release new album

I've long been a fan of the Junior Boys sound - there is something about Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus' approach to songwriting and production. When at their best there music has an incredibly polished sound - not something I'd usually appreciate but in their case it really creates a spellbinding mood.

Thankfully a new album is on the way - entitled It's All True it will come out on Domino on 20 June 2011 but Domino are giving away album track 'ep' now. Head over and give up your email address to check it out.

'ep' is classic Junior Boys stuff - sun kissed vocal melodies and warm synths, it's kind of pointless to resist and whilst it doesn't suggest much of a departure in terms of sound it definitely has me excited for the album.

BP x

News: Glastonbury announce the Emerging Talent Competition longlist

Glastonbury have announced the longlist for the Emerging Talent Competition. This features the list of the 123 acts through to the next round to be considered for Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Competition - the winners of which will guest the pyramid stage at the festival this year!

Included in the list are the three acts shortlisted by BlackPlastic.co.uk having gone through over 150 entrants:

 

  1. Encounters [link fixed]
  2. Run Toto Run
  3. After After Hours

 

Look out for a feature post on each band over the coming weeks but in the meantime check them out - all three are fairly varied but represented the most exciting bands out of all of those BlackPlastic checked out.

BP x

News: Glastonbury announce Emerging Talent Competition 2011

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Glastonbury Festival have just announced their Emerging Talent Competition for 2011's festival, giving new unsigned bands across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to win a slot on the main stage. The winner will be in esteemed company - previous winners include Stornoway, We Have Band, the Golden Silvers, the Subways, Ellen and the Escapades and, erm, Scouting For Girls.

At BlackPlastic we are always getting contacted by new unsigned acts - Glastonbury's competition represents a fantastic opportunity to get some exposure so if you are a music maker then we strongly recommend you enter. All styles and genres are eligible and entrance is free and surprisingly hassle free - you simply need to enter a link to where your music can be heard.  It's worth noting you only have a week to enter - the closing date is 5pm Monday 17 January 2011.

BlackPlastic has been selected along with 39 other bloggers to help judge this year's competition and you will have to excuse our blushes as we gush a bit and confess how chuffed we are to have been invited to be associated with such a prize.

You can find details on how to enter along with the full list of blogs that are judging over at the Glastonbury Festivals site... Good luck!

BP x

News: Simian Mobile Disco to launch Delicatessen with live set

BlackPlastic has a difficult time with Simian Mobile Disco - live they are a revelation, as DJs they are highly proficient and yet their albums, particularly their most recent offering (Temporary Pleasure), leave us cold.

When focused on making music for the dance floor though they have a way with acid and techno that few can consistently match, as evidenced by their early tracks ('Hustler', 'It's The Beat' and 'Sleep Deprivation') and their more recent instrumentals ('10,000 Horses Can't Be Wrong').

As such Simian Mobile Disco's forthcoming album, Delicacies, gets us a little hot under the collar, since it collects all of the tracks they have released on their own techno focused Delicacies imprint so far and puts them in one package.

To celebrate the duo will be performing a "Records & Machines" live set in a secret London warehouse on 26 November, featuring the obligatory CDJs with an 808, effects and of course some synthesizers. If you have never seen them live BlackPlastic would recommend it.

If you are up north you may be interested in the Simian Mobile Disco night in Manchester, where they will be taking over the Warehouse Project on 3 December with a frankly stupidly good line-up including Hercules & Love Affair, Tensnake, Andrew Weatherall vs Ivan Smagghe and Aeroplane.

More details on SMD's official site. Tickets for the London event are priced between £10-15 and are available from Ransom Note and Resident Advisor.

BP x