Sometimes you have to go to the other end of the world to realise that you just want to go home. Free of the responsibilities of your everyday existence it's easier to take a good look at your life, your career, your desires and your i-pod. Maybe you even get a chance to figure out what’s really fun and then simply start doing that. Just like Jimmy Somerville did in the summer of 2006.
Whilst performing a couple of critically acclaimed acoustic concerts in Sydney and Melbourne, Jimmy Somerville realised he really didn’t need synthesizers to have fun. “We recorded material like that while I was with Communards and Bronski Beat. 'For A Friend' worked like that: a piano, a voice, a great song. Whilst performing in Australia I realised: that’s all a song needs sometimes. Keeping it simple makes it powerful.”
Jimmy Somerville was enjoying his trip to Australia. After the shows, someone suggested recording the acoustic tracks he’d just performed. Jimmy Somerville liked the idea and, having some time on his hands, went into a local studio with the same musicians to record the tracks over six days.
Suddenly Last Summer is a stunning collection of cover versions in simple, beautiful and all new surprising acoustic arrangements. The first 3,000 copies come in a limited edition deluxe digi-paks with a bonus 2 track DVD featuring the promos for the lead tracks People Are Strange and Where Have All The Flowers Gone. An eclectic mix of modern classics reflecting Jimmy Somerville s own broad musical tastes including Blondie s "Hanging On The Telephone", Dusty Springfield's "I Just Don t Know What To Do With Myself", The Doors "People Are Strange" and Nina Simone's "Black Is The Colour Of My Love" among many other classics and standards.
The first of a series of Marc Almond expanded re-issue CD’s, Open All Night was originally released in 1999, and it's original and evocative sound mixes elements of R&B, Gospel, Latin, Trip-Hop and Electronica. Features duets with Siouxsie Sioux (‘Threat Of Love’) and with former Sneaker Pimps vocalist Kelly Ally (‘Almost Diamonds’).
Features an 18-track bonus disc, curated by Marc Almond himself of original song demos, film soundtrack rarities and alternative versions of tracks recorded at the time of the 1999 Open All Night Sessions.
ERASURE ALBUM UPDATE! Vince Clarke and Andy Bell are getting together in London this week to continue work on the new album and have promised that they will be Twittering regularly from the studio. You can follow their progress on Erasure's Twitter page, and all the Tweets will also be appearing on the ErasureFacebook page.
ANDY BELL DJ DATE IN LONDON Andy Bell will be playing a DJ set at The Eagle in Vauxhall, London on April 2nd.
ERASURE'S 'ALWAYS' IN TV PROMOTED ONLINE GAME Cartoon Network has just launched an online game - 'Robot Unicorn Attack' - at that features Erasure's classic 'Always'. The track is also used in the TV commercials for the game that are currently running on Cartoon Network. Check out the website if you fancy a look (or a play!).
ANDY BELL NEW SOLO SINGLE'S 'RUNNING OUT' AND 'WILL YOU BE THERE?' You can still listen to both tracks on Andy Bell's website, and of course they are available to download from the usual outlets.
'A LITTLE RESPECT' COVERED... AGAIN! Well it has been a couple of week's since I mentioned any covers of 'A Little Respect' so it should come as no surprise that there's a new one for you this week! This version comes from Alcazar's Magnus Carlsson... enjoy!
ANDY BELL BACK AT 10 DOWNING STREET Andy Bell attended a reception at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday evening (February 24th). The event - hosted by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - took place to 'celebrate the contribution of the LGBT community to Britain'.
"Beautifully Combined", a 13-track, one-disc compilation album of k.d.'s favorites, will be released by Starbucks Entertainment today, Tuesday, February 23.
Track Listing: 01. Constant Craving 02. Calling All Angels (with Jane Siberry) 03. Crying (with Roy Orbison) 04. Hallelujah 05. Helpless 06. What A Wonderful World (with Tony Bennett) 07. Miss Chatelaine 08. Golden Slumbers / The End 09. Wash Me Clean 10. Simple 11. Pullin' Back the Reins 12. Black Coffee 13. Beautifully Combined
Click here to purchase online, or find a copy at your nearest Starbucks location.
VIDEO "Good Morning America" has posted a web-exclusive performance of "Beautifully Combined." Please click here to watch.
And in case you missed her interview and performance last week, please click the links below: