Niki N. Phaser

                Your favourite British pop-nerds, Hot Chip, are releasing their fourth studio effort, One Life Stand. Even before we hear the album, we have to give them a thumbs up for finding such a tongue-in-cheek title. It’s coming out this week and by judging the already released material, Chip fans have nothing to worry about. The oddball electro outfit, who are celebrating a decade of existence, have plenty of pop hooks and over-plugged beats in store for us. Ready for the Floor’s title as the most recognizable Chip track might be in danger.

                 First official single, the title track, is a valid proof of this. It does sound like the little brother of a Depeche Mode track and Alexis Taylor like a Dave Gahan who hasn’t yet grown into his reverb, but One Life Stand has the merit of combining mystery with fun. It doesn’t happen too often. Still, I must declare that my first contact with this song was through the video, so maybe that’s why I’m seeing more green than black.

ONE CLICK STAND

                  Good Charlotte fans must be a little bit disappointed these days. The band announced on their official site that the album they’ve been working on, Cardiology, is going to the dumpster. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that they will write a new one, just that they’ll re-record their new songs. Faced with the product of the initial recordings, it dawned on Benji Madden that “it just wasn’t right” and the whole process has to be repeated. He continues with some not so subtle finger-pointing at Howard Benson: “While we were working with one of the most successful, biggest producers in the Business, all he seemed to focus on was “Commercial Success” of the record and all everyone seemed to talk about was the RADIO”.

                  The decision was made to re-record the album with old friend of the band, Don Gilmore (Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory and Meteora). So, now the outfit is at it again, up in Vancouver, Canada. Good Charlotte’s previous album was 2007’s Good Morning Revival, which spawned hits like Keep Your Hands off My Girl, Dance Floor Anthem or:

THE RIVER

            Your favorite virtual, animated band of anti-heroes is making an official return. Gorillaz are to release their third album, Plastic Beach, this March. This will be the follow-up to the groudbreaking Demon Days, that had the world shakin’ it to the hit Feel Good, Inc. and pretty much everything else that was on that album. The new 16-tracker will feature an eclectic congregation of guest singers, like Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, of course De La Soul and plenty of other guests (more than ever). Lead single, Stylo, will be available for download in a few days. It’s quite a retro-jem, filled with catchy rollerskate-disconess and a synth bassline which will have 80’s veteran breakdancers, “the Fred Astaires of the street”, dust their tank tops. Listen at Gorillaz’s:

OFFICIAL SITE