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

After a breakthrough start to the year, Angel, aka Sirach Charles is set to continue onwards and upwards as he gears up to release brand new single 'Wonderful' on July 29 th . With fans ranging from Michael Kiwanuka through to Cheryl Cole, Angel, once dubbed the UK R&B/Pop's biggest secret has effortlessly made the transition into one of its most promising new assets on the rise collecting the coveted accolades of HMV's Next Big Thing and MTV's Brand New Award nominations along the way. Highlights also include Angel’s debut release ‘Go In, Go Hard’ featuring Wretch 32 being announced as the title track to successful independent British film Streetdance 2 in addition to it notching up over 1 million YouTube views, supporting Dappy on his nationwide sell out tour, and selling out his own headline show (that sold out within 2 hours of being announced). At only 24 years old and hailing from Shepherds Bush, Londoner Angel has many strings to his b

Grammy award winning, 15 million album selling, singer-songwriter Macy Gray, one of the most unique and original artists to emerge in recent times, has her new album “Covered”, a collection of all new recordings of songs handpicked and reinterpreted by the US star in her own inimitable fashion, released on June 25th. To coincide with the release of the album Macy plays two sell-out nights at London’s Jazz Café on June 27th and June 28th. Produced by Hal Willner (Lou Reed, Metallica), “Covered” tackles material largely drawn from the indie scene from the last decade—interpretations Macy’s fans will be familiar with as she’s been performing them live over the years. Featured tracks include Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” or My Chemical Romance’s “Teenagers” which Gray subversively overhauls into something wholly her own. Also included are tracks by Radiohead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs as well as short skits featuring J.B. Smoove, Nicole Scherzinger and a guest appearance by Idris Elba. In addition Ma

To mark the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence Island Records are releasing a huge box set entitled ‘Sound System – The Story Of Jamaican Music’ on June 25th . ‘ Sound System ’ will feature 8 CDs of glorious music and a deluxe hard backed book by acclaimed writer Chris Salewicz (author of biographies of Bob Marley, Joe Strummer and ‘Rude Boy – Once Upon A Time In Jamaica’) and featuring hundreds of photos by legendary photographer Adrian Boot. Compiled by Ramus (musical factotum at Chris Blackwell-era Island, Mango and Palm Pictures) and Paul ‘Groucho’ Smykle (dub producer who’s worked with PiL, Grace Jones, David Bowie, Jah Wobble, BAD and many more), ‘Sound System’ features 120 songs randomly programmed to ape the way a Sound System DJ might select his set on any given night. It features a wonderfully eclectic mix of R&B, mento, ska, blue beat, reggae, dub and funk and celebrates the incredible musical gift this small island has given to the world. When it comes to