Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Continuing the build up to the release of their debut album, sonic experimentalists Clock Opera will release their single “Once And For All” on Moshi Moshi/Island on 30th January 2012. Epic and euphoric in equal measure, it epitomises the band’s signature sound of looping samples, layered textures and soaring vocals and demonstrates yet again their skill in audio autopsy - deconstructing and reassembling sounds and words to startling effect. Lyrically “Once and for All” recalls memories of being a teenager and the myriad complex and extreme emotions that we experience during those transitional years. Also included in the package is a remix by arguably one of the most devoted pioneers of experimental and electronic music, Mr Andrew Weatherall. After recent releases of “Belongings” and “Lesson No.7”, “Once And For All” further cements Clock Opera’s growing reputation as one of the most innovative, original and exciting bands in the UK right now. Live they continue to go from strength to

James Morrison has been nominated for Best British Male at the 2012 BRIT awards, an accolade he has been nominated for twice before, and won in 2007. James said: “I’m really happy to be nominated for The Brits again this year, it’s going to be a great night. It’s always good to get that level of recognition for your work, and there are some great artists in there too. ‘The Awakening’ is such an intensely personal album to me, I’m just pleased people are sharing that and enjoying it so much, and the fans are giving me such incredible feedback and support.” His new single ‘Slave To The Music’ is released on February 20. The up tempo track is the third to be taken from his platinum selling album ‘The Awakening’. The song originally came to James in a dream, where he envisaged Michael Jackson singing the main hook. The Awakening was number one for two weeks when it was released last year. It also contains the singles ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ and the stunning duet with Jessie J ‘Up’ – which ha

January 16th 2012 see’s the eagerly awaited release of Tribes debut album ‘Baby’ on Island Records, with the single ‘ We Were Children ’ on the 9th .Taped over six intense weeks in Liverpool with producer Mike Crossey, these songs have been honed to perfection during an odyssey of couch surfing and tearing the arse out of sweaty, shoebox-sized venues. Like with so many great debut albums, ‘Baby’ is the culmination of the band’s own lives up to this point. NME Awards Tour Dates 2012: 08 Feb Glasgow O2 Academy 09 Feb Newcastle O2 Academy 10 Feb Manchester Academy 14 Feb Nottingham Rock City 15 Feb Leeds O2 Academy 17 Feb Norwich UEA 18 Feb Birmingham O2 Academy 19 Feb Cardiff University 20 Feb Bristol O2 Academy 22 Feb Bournemouth O2 Academy 23 Feb Brighton Dome http://www.myspace.com/tribesband