Brian Eno has announced the first-ever collection of his film and television music. It’s titled, appropriately enough, Film Music 1976 – 2020. The album includes songs and themes from classic films like David Lynch’s Dune, Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob, and Michael Mann’s Heat. Film Music will be released on November 13 via UMC. Eno’s work in film, television, and documentary scores and soundtracks spans five decades. He has crafted complete scores for over 20 films. Film Music includes some of Eno’s more recognizable compositions, in addition to seven previously unreleased tracks.
In early 2013 !!! released one of their best albums, Thr!!!er, then followed it up in November with an EP collection of remixes of songs from the record and a previously unreleased song, too. They chose remixers who came back with a wide range of sounds. Maurice Fulton throws funky disco dust on top of "One Girl/One Boy," Anthony Naples revamps "Californiyeah" as experimental techno, and Patrick Ford ropes in rappers Main Attrakionz on his version of "Californiyeah" that takes !!! to uncharted waters. The song that wasn't on the album, "Broadway (Gimme the Lights On)," is a typically rubbery dance track that's given a fun redo by Jim Eno of Spoon and a pounding hip-house makeover by Romare. While none of the versions eclipse the originals, it's a nice addition to Thr!!!er that might supply a song or two to your next dance party mix.
One of the most enigmatic figures in rock history, Scott Walker was known as Scotty Engel when he cut obscure flop records in the late '50s and early '60s in the teen idol vein. He then hooked up with John Maus and Gary Leeds to form the Walker Brothers. They weren't named Walker, they weren't brothers, and they weren't English, but they nevertheless became a part of the British Invasion after moving to the U.K. in 1965. They enjoyed a couple of years of massive success there (and a couple of hits in the U.S.) in a Righteous Brothers vein. As their full-throated lead singer and principal songwriter, Walker was the dominant artistic force in the group, who split in 1967. While remaining virtually unknown in his homeland, Walker launched a hugely successful solo career in Britain with a unique blend of orchestrated, almost MOR arrangements with idiosyncratic and morose lyrics. At the height of psychedelia, Walker openly looked to crooners like Sinatra, Jack Jones, and Tony Bennett for inspiration, and to Jacques Brel for much of his material. None of those balladeers, however, would have sung about the oddball subjects – prostitutes, transvestites, suicidal brooders, plagues, and Joseph Stalin – that populated Walker's songs.
In 2013, David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label released Who is William Onyeabor?, a compilation of the obscure, but increasingly influential Nigerian musician William Onyeabor. Now (in 2014) follows a 9xCD box set that collects the entirety of Onyeabor’s recorded output.
DAVID SYLVIAN Weatherbox (Rare 1989 UK deluxe 5-CD box set spanning David's career and his many collaborations. Includes the releases: Brilliant Trees, Alchemy, Gone To Earth, Gone To Earth - Instrumental [Exclusive to this box set] and Secrets Of The Beehive. Also includes a 60 page booklet which documents each release and all the musicians involved plus fold-out poster. The artwork and design is by Russell Mills and Dave Coppenhall with sliding lid on the top of the box. The accompanyment by the likes of Bill Nelson, Sakamoto, Jansen/Barbierri/Karn, Russell Mills, Robert Fripp, Michael Brooks et al bears testimony to just how many TALENTED ARTISTS are influenced and eager to work w/ Mr. Sylvian.