White Chicks On Rap - In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 7 by Tiesto

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Label: Black Hole
Rating: 3 Guns

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As I write this, it is about 20 minutes until sunrise. I just finished doing yoga on my Wii Fitness (which is the coolest thing ever, but this is my review of Tiesto, not the Wii). I was listening to this CD as my Wii trainer told me what a doing job I was doing balancing. Trance and yoga go together very well, don’t ask me why, it just does.

Actually, I was on disc 2. I listened to disc 1 the night before. In between the commercials on “I Love The Millennium” on VH1 - and there were a lot of commercials.

For volume 7, Tiesto takes us to Asia. What I like about the In Search Of Sunrise series is that Tiesto gears the music to sound like the area he is inspired by. If you are curious, there are six other CD’s that are good and worth a listen…if you do listen, get your music passport ready as Tiesto will take you to Latin America, Ibiza and Los Angeles.

The key to any trance album is that is flows well from track to track. Really, you shouldn’t even notice that you are listening to another track. Tiesto (who has been a DJ for years now) does a great job with the pacing and flow.

Some outstanding tracks are Wasted, Ride and Feel The Rhythm.

What is cool is that Tiesto is touring this summer and I have seen him live and it is a great experience listening to trance with a crowd of thousands. If he is coming to a town near you, I recommend going…even if he is not coming to your town, take a vacation to where he is playing, you won’t be disappointed.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All This Friends

Label: Capitol Records
Rating: 4 Guns

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

There are very few albums I am excited for this year…the first one was Gnarls Barkley’s The Odd Couple, the second one was Portishead’s Third and the next one is Viva La Vida by Coldplay. If you are interested, another album I am waiting for is Massive Attack’s next album, which I hear might be coming out late this year.

For us Coldplay fans we have waited since 2005 for a new album and I swear that Viva La Vida was worth the wait. I have listened to this album for two weeks now and I literally love every song. Brian Eno (U2’s producer) and Markus Dravs (Bjork’s producer) do an outstanding job crafting an experimental album but remaining a Coldplay album and not U2 album.

The band takes a political tone in such songs as “Violet Hill” with the lines “I don't want to be a soldier/
With a captain of some sinking ship” and “Priests clutched onto Bibles/Hollowed out to fit their rifles" and the line in “Lovers In Japan” “Soldiers you’ve got to solder on/Sometimes even the right is wrong”.

Even the artwork is political with the “Liberty Leading The People” painting by Eugene Delacroix. The picture depicts the July Revolution of 1830.

The album opens with “Life In Technicolor” which sounds like “Where The Streets Have No Name”. What is interesting is that there are no lyrics to the song.

The album covers a range of topics such as politics, God and death. The track “Cemeteries Of London” uses hand clapping which reminds me of canasta. It adds an extra depth.

Keep your ears open for the hidden track “Chinese Sleep Chant”.

White Chicks On Rap - Duffy - Rockferry

Label: Universal/Polydor
Rating: 3 Guns

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Amy Winehouse has been out for about five years and the British media is already looking for new Amy. Well, a new Amy has been found…Aimee Duffy or Duffy as she is known professionally.

Duffy is a part of a new music trend of combining sixties soul, jazz and Motown.

Duffy’s debut album Rockferry is so refreshing in the strength is shows in singing about love and relationships.

My favorite track is “Warwick Avenue”. Duffy sings about talking the train to Warwick Avenue to see her boyfriend to break up with him because he has broken her heart. I love how she sings how she wants better and staying where she is will only trap her because she knows her boyfriend really doesn’t love her.

“Hanging In Too Long” also discusses this when someone you love cheats on you and you are torn to stay and give it another chance or just to walk away.

“Mercy” is the current single on the radio and in TV commercials. It is very catchy and was the number single in the UK. Duffy is begging for the person she loves to give her mercy and treat her right.

“Distant Dreamer” is has a very lush orchestra arrangement. Duffy sings about all the things she dreams of being and the hope she holds onto. I love the lyrics “Even when you see me frown, my heart won't let me down, because I know there's better things to come”.

At 23, Duffy is another promising singer and I look forward to hearing more from her.

White chicks On Rap - Verve Remixed Vol. 4

Label: Verve Music Group/UMG
Rating: 3 Guns

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Electronica has always taken cues from jazz by sampling some of the greatest songs and standards to add another dimension of feeling and depth. Back in 2002, the Verve label, one of the greatest jazz labels took an idea of having DJ’s and remixers take jazz songs and make it accessible to a new generation. The format was such a success that other record labels (such a Motown) and artists (Shirley Bassey) have taken note and released remix albums of their own.

The fourth addition of the Verve remixed still delivers great chillout and trip-hop sounds. Some key pairings are The Cinematic Orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald on “I Get A Kick Out Of You” and Diplo with Marlena Shaw on “California Soul”. I love how Ella sings “I Get A Kick Out Of You” because normally, when this song is sung, it is at a faster, upbeat pace, but Ella creates a very intimate setting with her slow pace.

The album flows perfectly and adds a relaxing vibe for an ordinary day. Listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan turns an ordinary day into something memorable. If you dig this album, I recommend you look into getting the first three remix albums as they are outstanding. If you are interested in hearing the original songs, the Verve releases unremixed albums along with the remixed. Whichever version you get, you won’t be disappointed.

White chicks On Rap - Born In The Flood/The Wheel

Editor’s note: Two great albums that compliment each other perfectly. Enjoy tthese reviews, ladies and gentlemen, I know I did!
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If This Thing Should Spill by Born In The Flood
Released: May 15, 2007
Rating: 3 Guns

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Combining the sound of Radiohead and U2, Born In The Flood follows up their EP The Fear That We May Not Be, with If This Thing Should Spill.

The standout track on this album is “In Debt To The Heart”. Nathaniel Rateliff has a great falsetto that just adds to the song.

“Anthem” starts slow and works up to a fast rock song. Rateliff and the band do a great job vocally and instrument wise to create that sound.

I think that this is a promising band that will soon hit the mainstream. The rock sound on display is great. I was watching the band on YouTube and their live performances are outstanding. They are one of the few bands that sound good live as they do on CD.

Desire And Dissolving Men by The Wheel
Released: November 6, 2007
Rating: 3 Guns

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The solo album from Nathaniel Rateliff, who is in Born In The Flood, releases a very somber album that is a departure from his work in Born In The Flood.

Recorded in Rateliff’s living room, you feel like you are listening to a private performance. Nathaniel plays most of the instruments and even sings the background vocals.

The songs are very raw and deal with longing and reflection.

“Did You Come Here” is about walking down the aisle and bond between a man and woman. It almost sounds like a country song with it’s talk singing style.

“My Hanging Surrenders” is my favorite track and Nathaniel’s falsetto is very good.

This album is very folksy and beautiful. Nathaniel has a great career ahead of him as both a solo artist and with his band (Born In The Flood).

Top 10 Rap Albums of the Week

Commentary By: White Chicks On Rap

Rick Ross is still number one. Foxy Brown’s new album “Brooklyn’s Don Diva” debuts at number two. Foxy has disowned this album saying she did not get to hear the final mix until it was released and feels it is not strong enough to be a full album, saying it is more of a mixtape. A new version with new tracks is scheduled for a June 2008 release. The Roots are still doing well dropping from number two to number three and Trina drops from three to four. Lil’ Scrappy’s second album debuts at number six.

	Artist	Song
	Bun-B	II Trill
	Rick Ross	Trilla
	Flobots	Fight With Tools
	The Roots	Rising Down
	Trina	Still Da Baddest
	Foxy Brown	Brooklyn's Don Diva
	Snoop Dogg	Ego Trippin'
	Frayser Boy	The Key
	Shawty Lo	Units In The City
	Rocko	Self-Made

White Chicks On Rap - Tres Bien – Tree EP

Label: Self-Released
Rating: 3 Guns

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A modern day foursome, Tres Bien combines a very sixties sound taking elements from the Beatles, the Animals and the Monkeys. The band was featured on the competition show “The Next Great American Band”.

“The Way We Know” has been the band’s MySpace page and I just absolutely love it. It is very poppy, but still rock.

“Heard No More” has a great rift and reminded me of the song “The Last Train To Clarksville”. It is has a surf quality to it.

“Time For A Change” and “The West” has a very bluesy feel and lead vocalist Mikey Bostinto does a great job as does the rest of the band to create a very somber tone.

I am not sure who won “The Next Great American Band”, but to me I am surprised Tres Bien didn’t win. The EP Tree is a perfect album to tie you over until the full length album comes. You can get the album on their MySpace page or iTunes.

White Chicks On Rap - The Roots – “Rising down”

Label: Island/Def Jam
Rating: 3 Guns

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Rap is not known for bands- it’s not known for live instruments. If you are expecting convention from a hip-hop/rap album, then The Roots are not for you. Since their debut in 1993, The Roots have spoken out about social issues of race, drugs, politics and class.

A recorded conference between Black Thought and then label Geffen is the first track off the album. The rage you hear on “The Pow-Pow” lets you know that this is not a happy go lucky album.

An exception can be made for the track “Birthday Girl” with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump. A reggae style pop song, great for a summer drive to the beach. This has been added as a bonus track as it did not fit the mood of the album.

75 Bars (Black Reconstruction) is a solo track by Black Thought that has no hook, just straight rapping. It is very interesting to hear him just going through a conscious stream of thought. So many rap songs are focused on hooks and really nothing of importance is said.

The title track says how they are going to “dominate the world like Oprah did”. The song is hope after hearing tracks like “Lost Desire” which speaks about senseless street violence.

This is just another solid album from The Roots and from hip-hop in general.

White chicks On Rap - An Introduction to Sepiatone

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Label: Minty Fresh
Rating: 4 Guns

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I would like to introduce you to Sepiatone. A duo from Sicily who’s sound is airy and jazzy. Their new album, “An Introduction To Sepiatone” is their first US album- they have released two other albums in Europe.

This album is a true introduction as it contains some songs from their previous releases. The songs on the album flow right into another. The combination of trip-hop, chill-out and jazz along with Marta Collica’s voice is just brilliant.

The album opens with “Sunstroke”. The sounds of the beach echo all around and reminds me of carefree summer days.

I just love “New World” “Green House” and “Darksummer”. The dramatic tones and simple background effects remind me so much of Portishead.

In listening to the album I found it to be beautiful as each song has its own characteristics. I hope this is not the last we hear from this promising act.

Like this band? You may also like: Beangrowers, Firefox AK, Portishead

Music News

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Jury Selection Begins In R. Kelly Case
Jury selection began Friday in Chicago in the case against R. Kelly who is charged with 14-counts of children pornography. The case has been in the process for over six years and the defense has filed more motions to delay the trial further. The challenge for both sides is to find a group of 12 women and men who are impartial as the details surrounding this case and sex tape have been available to the public. If convicted, Kelly faces 15 years in prison, $100,000 fine and he must register as a sex offender.

Snoop Dogg Makes A Video With Willie Nelson
Snoop Dogg has shot a video with Willie Nelson for the single “My Medicine”. Snoop called Willie “his solider” and said he enjoyed working with the country legend. The video was shot in Amsterdam and Nashville.

Details For Snoop’s Upcoming Album
Snoop told MTV news that he is starting to working on a new studio album tentatively titled “Malice In Wonderland”. Snoop said he was inspired by a session he had with Lalo Schifrin (a famous composer- works include the Mission Impossible TV theme).

White chicks On Rap - Music News

Common To Star In New Terminator Film
Rapper Common will have a role in the new Terminator films starring Christian Bale. Common will play a freedom fighter named Barnes. Look for the film around May 2009. For you Common fans, he is dropping “Invincible Summer” in July. Also, Common is in Street Kings (which was released April 11th) and is in the new Angelina Jolie film “Wanted” coming out June 27th.

Amy Winehouse Arrested For Drugs In London
Amy Winehouse was arrested today in London in connection with a video that came out in January showing Amy smoking crack cocaine. After an investigation, Amy was bought in for questioning. Amy was released after posting bail. Police said that Amy is fully cooperating with their questions.

Mark Ronson To Join Jay-Z On His UK Tour
Producer and DJ Mark Ronson has worked with Amy Winehouse and Lilly Allen, will now join Jay-Z on his UK tour. Jay-Z said that "There's an amazing vibe and energy in the UK. I'm looking forward to seeing my UK fans again."

White Chicks On Rap – The Bravery - The Sun And The Moon

Label: Island/Def Jam
Rating: 3 Guns

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When The Bravery came out, they were named “New York’s Official Next Big Thing” by the Village Voice. As their career as progressed, they were compared to The Killers and the band did suffer because of that. As similar as The Killers and The Bravery are, their styles are very different. The Bravery’s second album is cross of new wave and rock, but they stay true to their sound.

“Split Me Wide Open” sounds like an unreleased cut by The Cure.

“Tragedy Bound” about a girl who was abused by her father and even after his death is still living a damaged life. The telling lyric “I'm starting to suspect she likes abuse” is just so telling. It is a very hard song to listen to.

My favorite tracks are “Believe” and “Time Won’t Let Me Go”. My favorite verse of the whole album comes from “Believe”. “So give me something to believe/cause I am living just to breathe/and I need something more/to keep on breathing for/so give me something to believe”.

“Time Won’t Let Me Go” is about looking back at your life and longing to go back a change the things we regret.

“The Ocean” a mix of strings and acoustic guitars speaks to a love that got away and how the ocean rows them away.

White chicks On Rap - Portishead - Third

Label: Island/Universal
Rating: 4 Guns

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Here is another album I have been waiting for. Actually, I have been waiting 10 years. The group from Bristol, England that helped bring trip-hop to the masses is back with their third album.

The album opens with the track “Silence”, but this album is anything but silent. Beth Gibbons haunting voice lingers with Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley’s production and music direction.

“Machine Gun” literally sounds like a machine gun going off in the background. The acoustic guitar of “The Rip” is beautiful and tender against Beth’s voice. “Hunter” asks “If I should fall, would you hold me?/Would you pass me by?”. The riff goes from almost metal back to chillout. “Deep Waters” has a bluegrass feel and “We Carry On” has beats and riffs that smashes like waves on the shore.

The Music News

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Prince Played Coachella
“You are the coolest place on earth right now!” Prince told the crowd on Saturday.

Prince sang some of his greatest hits like “1999”, “Purple Rain” and “Let’s Go Crazy”, but he added Radiohead’s “Creep” and The Beatles’ “Come Together.”

Now don’t think that Prince hogged the stage to himself…Morris Day (of The Time) sang “Jungle Love” and Shelia E sang “The Glamorous Life” (and you thought that Fergie was the only one singing about the glamorous life).

There are rumors that event organizers paid close to $5 million to get Prince (they have been trying to get him since the festival started in 1999). I say fuck the cost…it’s Prince.

M.I.A. Played Coachella
One of the coolest female rappers…M.I.A. played one of the dance tents. Her set included “Boyz”, “Galang” and “Paper Planes.”

Amy Winehouse Arrested Again
I have to wonder what was going on in Amy’s head last week when she head-butted a guy outside a London bar.

Maybe, she missed her incarcerated husband, Blake, and thought she would surprise him by becoming his new cellmate.

Well, whatever she thought got her arrested last week. After being interviewed by the police, she was given a caution (which means she is free to go, but cannot get into any further trouble).
So, look forward to seeing Amy during her trainwreck tour- coming to bar near you.

Top 10 Rap Albums of the Week

Written by: White chicks On Rap

Rick Ross moves into the number one spot with his second album. Trina is still reppin' the females in the second spot (the only female in the top 10). Snoop Dogg is also moving up. Jay-Z's American Gangster is back in the top ten after 24 weeks on the chart. New to the top 10 is Dark Lotus' The Opaque Brotherhood. The third album from a group comprised of members from the Insane Clown Posse.

	Artist	Song
	Rick Ross	Trilla
	Trina	Still Da Baddest
	Snoop Dogg	Ego Trippin'
	Flo Rida	Mail On Sunday
	Shawty Lo	Units In The City
	Webbie	The Savage Life 2
	Dark Lotus	The Opaque Brotherhood
	Lupe Fiasco	Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
	Rocko	Self-Made
	Jay-Z	American Gangster

Jay-Z To Play Glastonbury

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

One of England’s well known and respected music festivals is creating controversy.

Festival organizers have added Jay-Z to the lineup and some from the music community have come out to complain.

Noel Gallagher of Oasis said that "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."

Dizzie Rascal (a UK rapper) said "I don't know if Jay-Z has got that cross over element. Kanye West or Eminem, they've both got that. Jay-Z is a bit of a funny one”, but he added that “It's amazing to me man, as a fan that's just like wow, I never saw that coming and I could never picture Jay-Z at Glastonbury but it's all good."

Emily Eavis (organizer) said that she does not understand Noel’s comments as Glastonbury has hosted other rap acts such as De La Soul, Cypress Hill and The Roots to great success. Emily also addressed the issue raised by critics that Jay-Z was booked only to help poor ticket sales by saying that "Glastonbury has always managed to attract a diversity of acts, which is, I hope, part of its unique appeal."

Ticket sales have spiked because of the news and time will tell if Jay-Z performance is a success.

White Chicks On Rap - British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music

Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 3 Guns

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Do you like rock music? Well, you will like British Sea Power. For those not familiar with British Sea Power, they are similar to Arcade Fire. Don’t mistake British Sea Power as an Arcade Fire knock off. The group’s third album is redefining what a traditional rock album is. The sweeping sounds of guitars, drums, violins and organs infuse each track creating a dramatic landscape.

The track “Lights Out For Darker Skies” expands and contracts in it’s six and half minutes. The line “And we fall like sparks from a muzzle” is repeated several times in this almost epic poem. Speaking about the confusion and abandonment in relationship, the two standout lyrics for me were “When something’s wrong, you know it’s just not right” and “Stop acting like you’re my best friend, when you don’t why and you don’t know how it ends”.

“Atom” makes a very astute observation with the line “I'll be the first to admit this is a bright but haunted age."

The album goes from loud to quiet back to loud, with elements of chanting thrown in. The themes of the songs range from evil, death and the apocalypse. After listening to this album you will love rock music and British Sea Power.

White Chicks On Rap - Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

A special review from our plucky young writer of the "White Chicks on Rap" column. Being British (the ultimate white meat) she couldn't pass up the opportunity to review the new Elbow CD. Thanks to our friends at Geffen for making a young white girl's dream come true!!!

This album is out today, right now as we speak, so go to iTunes, Amazon, etc., and buy it!

The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow - Released: April 22, 2008

Label: Fiction/Geffen
Rating: 3 Guns

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Elbow’s fourth album was recorded in an interesting time for the band -losing their friend Bryan Glancy in January 2006 (who the album is dedicated to), becoming fathers and changing record labels.

The album opens to a crashing orchestra which reminded me of the ending to The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” and from start to the finish is a ride through emotion and sound.

“Grounds For Divorce” is Zeppelin-esque, and “The Fix” with Richard Hawley is a night at the pub with two guys talking about their life. Very English with a dark sense of humor.

“Friend Of Ours” is dedicated to Bryan Glancy, another songwriter from Manchester. As the music fades, you can feel the tender moment of a friend speaking to another friend when he says “So, gentle shoulder-charge, love you mate, love you mate”.

“Weather To Fly” is a beautiful, hypnotic ballad talking about the bands and their struggles.

The two most impressive pieces (in an already impressive album) is “The Loneliness Of A Towercrane Drive” talking about how lonely it can be at the top and gospel-tinged “One Day Like This”. The line “It’s looking like a beautiful day/throw those curtains wide/one day like this a year will see me right” should give the strength and courage to see that there is nothing in this world to hold you back.

White Chicks On Rap - Dub Pistols Review/Q&A

Yes, folks… our plucky young church-going lady who writes the “White Chicks On Rap” column has certainly been busy this week. She managed to review two of the U.K.’s hottest acts (Dub Pistols and Elbow).

Check out our interview with the Dub Pistols, courtesy of our good friends at the Planetary Group.
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The Dub Pistols formed about a decade ago when Barry Ashworth got together with Jason O’Bryan in west London. Chewing up hip-hop, dub, techno, ska and punk and spitting them out in a renegade futuristic skank, the Dubs began playing full live band shows and were soon on giant US tours. In the UK they got lumped under the big beat tag alongside the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim – maintaining a rock & roll attitude to their block-rockin’ beats.

Their debut ‘Point Blank’ album led to remix work for Moby, Limp Bizkit, Crystal Method and Ian Brown, and they did a track for the Blade 2 soundtrack with Busta Rhymes.

If you’d told a 15-year-old Barry Ashworth that he’d end up in the same band as his hero Terry Hall from The Specials, he’d have laughed in your face. But with the distinctive front man now a regular vocal presence – alongside UK hip-hop hero Rodney P and wicked young US rapper T.K. Lawrence – the Pistols have cemented their line-up.

Speakers And Tweeters by The Dub Pistols - Released: March 19, 2007
Rating: 3 Guns

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The third album from The Dub Pistols blends the best of hip-hop and electronic.

The album sees guest appearances from Terry Hall (from The Specials) who sings on the Dub Pistol’s cover of “Gangsters”, an updated of The Specials’ 1979 hit.

“You’re Never Find” is a reggae fused cover of the Lou Rawls’ song featuring rapper Rodney P.

If you are looking for a perfect song to breakdance to, then “Cruise Control” needs to be on your boombox while spinning and doing the worm on your cardboard.

“Something To Trust” is a mencing track and the closest the UK is going to get to West Coast Gangster rap.

The opening track “Speed Of Light” is a very ambient and reminds me of Moby or Groove Armada.
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We were able to catch up with the Dub Pistols for a quick Q&A. Definitely worth a read!

CWG: For a while it was very hard for a UK group to break into the US and more US music was topping the charts in the UK. The UK music scene has always been groundbreaking (trip-hop, dub, electronica, rock). Do you feel the UK still leads the way musically?

DP: I think the chart topping thing has more to do with the power of the big US labels, being able to push their records with more money, expensive videos, bribes ha-ha! And more clout, than it has to do with style or being ground breaking.

I’m not sure the U.K leads the way, more goes its own way. The UK has always had a reputation for experimenting with different styles and seeing what comes out and I think that is to do with the many different cultures that run through our country..

But I also hear brilliant music coming from all over the place now and maybe that’s because of the Internet.

CWG: For a good 3/4 years the UK & US scene was filled with pop singers, boy bands and girl groups. Rock is starting to make a comeback. Why do you think that is?

DP: Again I think technology; people don’t have to listen to just 2 or 3 radio stations dictating what you have to hear through their cheesy play list.

Now, via Internet and digital stations, the choice is massive and the people have voted.
CWG: In the UK you were lumped with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim. How did you feel about that and did you think it was fair?

DP: The Chemical Bros. had a massive influence on us way back and our first album was a lot more breaks/electronic lead so I know where that came from, but after that we really changed our style, but it has taken a long time to shake off tag!
Even though our last 2 albums have been totally different

CWG: 9/11 was such a major worldwide event, why do you think musically it was not really discussed? Did the events of 7/7/05 inspire you musically?

DP: I guess people were so deeply affected by the events of that day that

a. they don’t want to write about it and

b. people don’t particularly want to be reminded of it through music.

A lot of songs that we recorded for our second album ‘Six Million Ways To Live’ were misunderstood as being about 911 when they were in fact written years before. I think after that album we decided to try and put a bit more fun in the music. I think everyone needed cheering up.

CWG: You got to work with your idol, Terry Hall, who else would you love to work with?

DP: To many to name but here we go: Roots Manuva, Suggs, Noel Gallagher, Mick Jones, Ian Brown, Sizzla, Sia.

CWG: Rap is seen as an American style of music. What does rap mean to you and how does rap translate in the UK? In the US, you have East Coast, West, Coast, Southern, gangster. Do you think the UK rap scene will translate outside of the UK?

I don’t follow US rap music particularly closely, and I have no interest in the ‘rap’ music that is pushed by major labels, all about bling with foolish lyrics and ridiculous videos, I understand that that music is just a commodity in the same sense that boy bands and pop idols are.

Hip hop originally was an art form, and rap just an element of a bigger picture involving graffiti and break dancing, That is completely lost in translation now.

I think UK hip hop however, is in a really healthy state as it has retained the original spirit of the genre and reflects a reality that people can relate to. UK artists tend to talk about how their life actually is rather than pretending to be something they are not.

As to whether the UK sound should translate outside of the UK?,

I don’t see why not, as long a people are open-minded I’m sure they will find things that they like about the scene and artists the can get into. I recommend you start with Rodney P, Roots Manuva and Skinnyman and see how you get on….

CWG: What is your process when remixing a song?

DP: When remixing, we try to work with artist we can relate to. It is very difficult to remix something you don’t like and utterly pointless, as you end up with two versions of a song you don’t like!

Generally, we like to use the vocal as much as possible and remake the backing track as much as we can to give the song a completely new twist.


We use the elements we like, basically, and replace the others. One of our remixes I was most proud of was of Ian Browns ‘Dolphins were Monkeys’, it was one of those tracks where everything just came together naturally.

If you happen to be across the pond in the next few months, go and check the Dub Pistols out in person!

European Tour Dates:
Apr 25 2008 - Club Vinyl (TBC) Warsaw
Apr 26 2008 - Krakow (DJ Show) Krakow
May 4 2008 - Black Rabbit (Dj show) London, South
May 7 2008 - The Pussy Parlour (Dj Show) Brighton
May 9 2008 - Stir @ Heaven (Dj Show feat Rodney P) London
May 23 2008 - ATM Festival (Live show) Marselle
May 24 2008 - Spring7 Festival (full live Show) Austria
May 31 2008 - Refract Festival (Live Show) Belgrade
Jun 1 2008 - Sunrise Festival Bristol
Jun 6 2008 - Swindon (Full Live Show) Swindon
Jun 6 2008 - Coalition (Live show) Brighton
Jun 7 2008 - Flylife (Dj show feat Rodney P) Birmingham
Jun 8 2008 - Rockness (Dj Show) Inverness
Jun 11 2008 - Supercharged @ Audio (DJ Show) Brighton
Jun 20 2008 - Revolution Bar Milton Keynes
Jun 21 2008 - Sphink (Barry Ashworth Dj Show) Sopot
Jun 27 2008 - Glatonbury (Dj show with Barry ashworth & Rodney P) Sommerset, Southwest
Jul 4 2008 - Montendre Festival (Live show) Montendre
Jul 5 2008 - Solidays (Live Show) Paris
Jul 6 2008 - Beatherder Festival (Live) Leeds
Jul 11 2008 - Moho (Live show) Manchester
Jul 12 2008 - Lounge on the farm festival Canterbury
Jul 13 2008 - Rise Festival (Live Show Feat Terry Hall & Rodney P) London
Jul 19 2008 - Camp Bestival (Dj soundsytem show) Poole, Southwest
Jul 20 2008 - The Glade Festival Bristol, Southwest
Jul 23 2008 - Cannes (Dj Show feat Rodney P) Cannes
Jul 25 2008 - Iron Works (Live Show) Inverness
Jul 26 2008 - Wickerman Festival (Live) Scotland
Aug 1 2008 - Reggae Ska festival Paris
Aug 2 2008 - Diverse Festival (Live show) Poland
Aug 9 2008 - Mr C’s Club (Live Show) `Dorset, Southwest
Aug 14 2008 - Super Bock Surf Festival (Live Show) Sarges
Aug 16 2008 - V Festival (Barry Ashworth Dj show) Chelmsford
Sep 27 2008 - Costas De Musicas Festival (Live Show) Lanzarote

White Chicks On Rap - Ravoenettes - Lust, Lust, Lust

Label: Vice Records

Rating: 4 Guns

If the Velvet Underground, Jesus and the Mary Chain and Ronettes hanged out Denmark, you would have The Raveonettes. The group’s third album sounds like it was recorded in the gutter. And that is not an insult. A guitar heavy album, it seems that the music is the main attraction and Sharin Foo’s smooth icy vocals come second. The tracks flow very easy into one another creating a very ambient atmosphere.

“Blitzed” has a surf rock meets Debbie Harry/Blondie vibe. “Aly, Walk With Me” and “Lust” are very haunting tracks. “