FEATURE: How great is the BBC?

This feature was posted on Drowned in Sound:

DiS was surprised and excited to hear news that the BBC are working on a project to make all their glorious audio and video music content available to download.

The download service being developed by BBC Worldwide will offer streamed and paid download material from it's vast music archives.

This is a very exciting prospect. All the Peel sessions, Led Zeppelin's performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test, grunge hammered out on Top Of The Pops direct to your computer's video library.

With potential to be bigger than the iPlayer, DiS is naturally gagging with excitement. Details of the launch date have not yet been made available but that's not gonna stop us celebrating the news of this new music download service.

So in anticipation we thought we'd raid the YouTube archives and bring you some BBC music highlights that have inspired, awe struck and left DiS generally motived to keep pushing the good musical word.

Have a look below and see what you think of our selection. If you have any better ideas post them below and we'll soon let you know if you're right or wrong.

1. At The Drive 'One Armed Scissor' (Jools Holland 2000)

No-one was expecting At The Drive-In (pictured above) to incorporate a piece of seating furniture so creatively into the performance. This one track set was ground-breaking and sent jazz-grunge shockwaves far beyond television centre. Watching it back again it hasn't lost any of it's aggression and appeal.

2. Blur 'Universal' (Glastonbury 1998)

One of many Glastonbury performances you could pick from the Beeb's extensive annual coverage of the festival. The song's explicit optimism struck a cord with everyone in the audience both in the field and the armchair. This track especially seems to marry the message of every Glasto undeniably well.

3. Nirvana 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' (Top Of The Pops 1991)

Probably one of the funniest clips you'll see in the list. Kurt can already be seen giving fame the cold shoulder here as he refuses to tow the TOTP party live and perform conservatively. He deliberately puts on a Morrissey-esque low voice to either poke fun or entertain. Either way his efforts to fail failed as The Observer newspaper listed the performance as the third greatest in the programme's history. Amazing!

4. David Bowie 'Fame' (Bowie at the Beeb 2000)

The thin white Duke returned to his old stomping ground just days after his incomparable headlining set at Glastonbury 2000. The exclusively recorded intimate gig would be the blueprint for other, more contemporary performances from The Streets and Coldplay's outdoor show at Television Centre (youtube). This was easily the best time to see the most influential man in rock do a unbelievable greatest hits set.

5. The Maccabees 'First Love' & 'Latchmere' (BBC Collective 2007)

Bringing us bang up-to-date and coincidentally with a bunch of lads much loved by DiS are The Maccabees. The band performed in 2007 as part of the BBC Collective Sessions, a culture magazine that was available on the website (bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/). Unfortunately closed now but that doesn't mean we still cannot adore the amazing sound and visual quality of the magazines extensive archives. This is what live music should sound like.

This news story can be found on Drowned in Sound with other pieces by Dean Samways.

Words: Dean Samways

Image: Google

Videos: YouTube

NEWS: Bittersweet Tensions For Ashcroft

Stringy northern soulster Richard Ashcroft has hinted that there is still tensions within his band despite their seemingly successful reformation.

Friction has reportedly been brewing within The Verve camp as they have been putting together their new album Forth, ten year after their last long player Urban Hymns.

This shouldn’t be taken to heart though, as the singer told BBC 6 Music they’ve never necessarily seen eye-to-eye.

“Obviously there's baggage and things that you've got to sift through," he said. "It's not some Mills & Boon scene running down the beach as the sun sets. But it is the case that these four people make a unique sound together.”

Nick McCabe, the band’s guitarist confirmed that there’s always been an element of conflict within the band but that this only serves the music, man.

“We've had a lot of time to think about things, but hopefully we're older and wiser, and it just seemed to me that I put a huge chunk of my life into this and there is no way that I would turn my back on it if there was ever a chance of it working again,” he told the Beeb.

The Verve returned to the live stage with a headline set at Glastonbury this year. You can find it just beneath this scribble:

This news story can be found on the Quietus with other pieces by Dean Samways.

Words: Dean Samways

Image: the Quietus

NEWS: Glastonbury vs. Lollapalooza

The Godfather of muddy summer shindigs Glastonbury could get a new competitor as reports out this morning claim Perry Farrell is considering bringing his Lollapalooza festival across the pond.

The former Jane's Addiction singer has said he’s been approached with offers to make the famous US music gathering international. Speaking to NME.COM he also revealed the three-day Chicago festival will have new elements to it when it when things kick off on August 1.

“Lollapalooza is one of the historically great festivals in this country. Over there [in England] they have Glastonbury - it's actually older than Lollapalooza. I love the competition. I love the idea that OK, you've got Glastonbury, let's see what we can do to make our Lollapalooza fantastic.”

Taking an entire festival overseas is no mean feat, and Farrell is under no illusions as to how demanding the mammoth task ahead of him will be.

“I'm in negotiations right now with a few other locations, some of them overseas, and we'll see how it goes. I look at Lollapalooza as an incredible party machine and you have to go where you can put on the best party."

On more immediate matters Farrell spoke of the latest addition to the Chicago Grant Park outing; a shaded “club area” where punters will be able to enjoy a bit of a dance, a drink and watch some live music.

“It'll have booze and seating and an authentic club sound and feel. It's a place where you can get out of the sun, grab a drink and get a taste of dance culture. And I'll be doing a live electro set there with my Satellite Party posse.”

The once travelling music carnival which has now found a permanent home in Chicago features an impressive line-up this year. Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, The Raconteurs and Gnarls Barkley are all set to make an appearance, with Farrell particularly looking forward to Kanye West’s set.

“This year Kanye West has had a bit of controversy going on with his live sets, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing him hit the stage and rock the city of Chicago.”

To see The Raconteurs perform ‘Level’ at last year’s Lollapalooza divert your gaze below:

This news story can be found on the Quietus with other pieces by Dean Samways.

Words: Dean Samways

Image: the Quietus

NEWS: Free Seasick Steve Download

After a triumphant Glastonbury appearance lovable bum Seasick Steve returns with a new album.

His Pyramid Stage set may already be festival folklore but Steve’s new album Started Out With Nothin' and I Still Got Most of It Left may just cement his reputation as one of the great blues artists of modern times.

The follow-up to Dog House Music is released on September 29.

In the build up to the album Steve’s label Warner are offering a free download of ‘Roll and Tumble Blues’. Download ‘Roll and Tumble Blues’ here.

A montage of live footage including Steve’s adventures on Worthy Farm can also be watched online here.

The Yankee bluesman will be taking his DIY guitar to the Latitude Festival and has numerous other shows in the UK lined up throughout October. Full listing below:

• 1st October - Royal Albert Hall
  
• 3rd October - Southampton Guildhall
  
• 5th October - Bristol Carling Academy
  
• 6th October - Brighton Dome
  
• 9th October - Nottingham Rock City
  
• 19th October - Liverpool Carling Academy
  

Seasick Steve pic courtesy Shot2bits

This news story can be found on the Quietus with other pieces by Dean Samways.

Words: Dean Samways

Image: the Quietus