Coldplay's Chris Martin plays new song Wedding Bells at Apple event
by JOE BOSSO
Coldplay's Chris Martin really, really likes Apple. Doubt it? It's the name he and his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, bestowed upon their first child. And yesterday, to perform a new song called Wedding Bells for the first time ever in public, he chose to do so at an Apple convention in California.
And it could be the last time Martin plays the song - at least he suggested that much. In his introduction of the long-gone-wrong lament, the singer joked, "This is a new song… I've been working on it - it's called 'Coldplay 2.6'. It has a lot of new features. It features seven different kinds of chords. Even a new one that our closest rivals have no idea about."
Which of course elicited guffaws from Apple CEO Steve Jobs and company. Still, the tone of the song, which Martin performed at a time when tabloids are rife with stories of his imminent split from Paltrow, was deadly serious.
"Those wedding bells are ringing up upon that hill/ and I don't want to swallow such a bitter pill/ you keep on moving, but I stay still/ but I always loved you and I always will," Martin sang in the opening verse. Makes you wonder if he'll stay true to his word and never play the song again.
On 20th September Keys to Ascension, by seminal prog-rock band YES, will be released by Proper Music. The bumper pack of 4 CD's + DVD captures the magic of the 1995 YES reunion tour, featuring the members of its most celebrated line-up: Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White.
This YES reunion with this classic line-up of great musicians was eagerly anticipated by the band's millions of fans across the world ' many wondered if it would become a reality. But in the winter of 1995 and the spring of 1996 the fans got their wish as the classic 1970's band came together to record new material at Yesworld studios in San Luis Obispo, California. This was followed by a series of three brilliantly staged live concerts in March 1996 at The Freemont Theatre in San Luis Obispo. 20 years might have elapsed between their last live performance but the band gelled magnificently, playing the timeless classics from all phases of their multi-layered career to packed-out audiences of ecstatic fans.
Keys To Ascension is a must-have, not only for the legions of YES fans, but also for lovers of great rock bands. This handsomely packaged CD & DVD set bears testimony to the fact that all the musical magic is still there: stunning technical ability, incredible improvisational skills and a powerful on-stage alchemy. It is the first to me that these performances have been available in one package, with the original artwork from Roger Dean.
Full Tracklisting follows:
Disc 1
Recorded Live at SLO 1996
1. Siberian Khatru
2. The Revealing Science Of God
3. America
4. Onward
5. Awaken
Disc 2
Recorded Live at SLO 1996
1. Roundabout
2. Starship Trooper
Studio Tracks Recorded 1996
3. Be The One
4. That, That Is
Disc 3
Recorded Live at SLO 1996
1. I've Seen All Good People
a) Your Move
b) All Good People
2. Going For The One
3. Time And A Word
4. Close To The Edge
a) The Solid Time Of Change
b) Total Mass Retain
c) I Get Up, I Get Down
d) Seasons Of Man
5. Turn Of The Century
6. And You And I
a) Cord Of Life
b) Eclipse
c) The Preacher The Teacher
d) Apocalypse
Disc 4
Studio Tracks Recorded 1995/1996
1. Mind Drive
2. Foot Prints
3. Bring To The Power
4. Children Of Light
a) Children Of Light
b) Lifeline
5. Sign Language
DVD
Recorded Live at SLO 1996
1. Siberian Khatru
2. Close To The Edge
3. I've Seen All Good People
4. Time And A Word
5. And You And I
6. The Revealing Science Of God
7. Going For The One
8. Turn Of The Century
9. America
10. Onward
11. Awaken
12. Roundabout
13. Starship Trooper
Robert Plant played an intimate warm-up show in London last night as he prepared for tonight's gig at the Forum.
Taking the stage with new ensemble Band Of Joy, the one-time Golden God and his team of Nashville sessioneers ran through a short set of songs taken from Plant's latest solo record. Now 62, he remains in fine form; the permanent glint in his eye evidence of just how much he's enjoying this latest musical adventure.
The material - a downhome set of folk-blues reinterpretations, country rarities and reawakened spirituals - is rooted in the dusty americana that served him so well on 2007's Raising Sand, except here the twinkling mandolins and plucky banjos play an even larger part in the mix. Unsurprisingly, the band are super tight, delivering the likes of Townes Van Zandt's bittersweet Harm's Swift Way, Richard & Linda Thompson's House Of Cards and the hushed groove of Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down with rustic cool.
Plant's voice eases its way into the sound, for the most part remaining tender and measured - only once does an unleashed "ooo-yeah!" hint at his heavy rock past. There's a magical quality to these tracks too - a reverence tinged with playfulness that wends its way through each tale. A beautiful, a capella version of And We Bid You Goodnight is a fitting end to a set that shows how the self-styled Black Country hippie has found a second home in the ancient backwaters of these songs. If you're headed to the Forum tonight, you're in for a real treat.
Maximo Park's Paul Smith announces UK tour and debut single
Paul Smith of Maximo Park will release 'Our Lady of Lourdes' on 1st November, the first single from his debut solo album 'Margins'. The single will be released on 7' vinyl (with b-side 'Loop for Becca') and download (with a version of 'A Little Lost' by Arthur Russell).
Written and recorded in less than 24 hours, Our Lady of Lourdes has a propulsive beat, lush echoing guitars and dream-like melodies. 'The song is like a short story describing a sign language conversation. It also touches on how religion provides comfort to those who need it', explains Smith of the mysterious lyrics. It's one of the more electric songs on a record that also finds Smith exploring his love of acoustic and experimental sounds.
Margins is released on 11th October on Billingham Records, run by Smith, the label on which Maximo Park's first ever red vinyl was released. The album is a collection of personal and intimate self-penned songs recorded with friend and co-producer Andy Hodson (The Matinee Orchestra/Warm Digits) at Hodson's home in Newcastle over the past four years. Field Music's David Brewis plays bass on the record. Maximo Park, together with Smith, are currently writing new material.
Smith, accompanied by a band, will take to the road in November. He says ''ve been waiting to play these songs live for a while now so that should ensure an excitable performance although the songs will require a different execution to those of Maximo Park; less frenetic movement but no less emotion or commitment.'
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