The Sound08 competition is in full flow now and boy do I reckon the judges have their work cut out. We’ve seen some excellent entries already and it’s early doors still. Some top acts that have already caught my eye include Lanterns on the Lake and Lazy Hammock with many others that are thoroughly impressive…
…and unlike some sites, when we say we have XFM and Rock Ness involved, that means we do actually have XFM and Rockness involved.

You can check out the Rock Ness lineup to date here. Print it off and pencil your name in, or, enter Sound08 and you may not need the pencil…

…amazingtunes

DRM has finally met the beginning of its end, it seems, as Sony BMG has announced decisions to sell releases without the attached copyright protection software – the last of the ‘Major 4’ labels to do so. For over a decade now DRM has been employed as a means to control the digital distribution of music over illegal channels such as peer2peer communities like Gnutella, however DRM has long been lambasted by legitimate music fans and buyers who wish for the freedom to house their music, that they lawfully own, across multiple platforms – an option removed via the inclusion DRM.

While the anti-piracy intentions of the DRM efforts were good, in principal, this has fast become another antiquated means of copyright that more often than not affects mainly those who acquire the product legitimately, while pushing others towards the very same p2p networks that it intended to put an end to, as the consumers look for the freedom they should be entitled to over how they listen to their music.
“DRM is like going into your local stereo shop and having to purchase a DVD player for each movie studio.” Stated one disgruntled blogger, while many more consumers were subject to great frustration when, in 2005, Sony BMG embedded a form of DRM in their CDs that, when played on a PC, left the machines vulnerable to viruses. DRM, I can guarantee, will not be missed.

So it’s good news for the consumer. Or is it?

DRM was one effort to stem the flow of digital information onto p2p networks, but in its wake lies suggestions of new efforts to cut the flow, though this time not to the p2p communities, but from them. Presumably unrelated, but linked none the less to the DRM story, the RIAA and IFPI are looking at other means to control file-sharing. New preventative measures are being suggested, this time at the ISP level with both said organizations – alongside the likes of NBC, Microsoft, and communications giants AT&T – discussing the practicalities and facilitation of ISP filtering. What this means is that your Internet Service Provider could soon be screening the files you are receiving, at network-level, in an attempt to find copyright infringing items. The IFPI and RIAA wants ISPs to exercise more control and responsibility by starting to block unauthorized music transfers, as well as block any BitTorrent traffic. Further encouraged measures could even extend to ISPs completely blocking access to any “specific P2P services that are known to be predominantly infringing and that have refused to implement steps to prevent infringement”

While taxation at an ISP level may be more appealing to some it has weighty repercussions with regards to worldwide implementation, and when viewed against a screening suggestion, ISP filtering seems far more executable in the short-term. It’s success is by no means a definite and based on a trial basis, can be replaced by a taxation method if it fails to work.

I cannot say i like the sound of this allowance of information moderation that could be handed to the ISPs that have, up until now, provided me with the wide-open information super-highway that I have come to love, but the power lies with the money and the money lies with the big-hitters.

Watch this space…

…amazingtunes.com

It Christmas time, the ceramic logs on my gas fire are glowing and the seasonal videos on YouTube are on back-to-back streaming. Bing and Bowie’s nearly convincing acting is quickly following by Jimmy ‘Prince Adam’ Saville giving us a little bit of Wizzard, before pulling out all the stops with Slade. You need a real big hitter to follow that, cue Shakin’ Stevens, then slow it down with Peter Auty – that’s the Aled Jones replacement to you and me. Keep the lights low for some Andy Williams and brothers, if only for the pullovers, before bringing it back to the 80s with Wham and Last Christmas. Find some space for a rendition of Carol of the Bells (a personal favourite) before pulling out the Home Alone dvd and sitting back with a glass of home-made mulled wine.

Have a very merry Christmas everyone, and best wishes for 2008 with love and festive cheer from all the staff at amazingtunes.

…amazingtunes.com

Google’s philanthropic arm – google.org – has been making the news recently over their endeavors to combat climate change and environmental issues. The initiative, focused around investing in other environmentally conscious companies as well as concentrating on their own R&D efforts for renewable fuel sources have led to the setting of an ambitious goal to generate a gigawatt of renewable electricity at a price cheaper than can be done currently with fossil fuels.

This is a really warming commitment from a global company, though it initially all sounds a bit odd, and more so when you consider Google – an internet based company – work in a digitized medium, thus having minimal environmental impact from their main outputs. But that’s not to suggest they shouldn’t undertake these types of responsibilities, in fact, being at the heart of the distribution of information and a leading benefactor of advertising revenue they are in a considerably apt position to make a realistic difference.

Prior to this morning I’d have probably had the same reaction to this as you’ve undoubtedly just had, which is “Who…?” (some of you may have also unwillingly thought of Suggs, but don’t let that little ditty get stuck in your head…). The “who?” was then followed by the curiosity of just how many days of the year can be assigned to a person or cause. But St. Cecilia is, rather appropriately, the patron saint of musicians, and today, the 22nd of November, is her feast day. A feast i’ll prepare in a moment…

My awareness of this has come about through the endeavors of former KLF frontman Bill Drummond and his efforts yesterday (and in the previous two years) to make the 21st of November No Music Day. Originally, he tells us, it was practically a personal affair with very little awareness, but it has began to snowball with BBC Radio Scotland supporting this years efforts, making yesterday a music-less day over the airwaves – for Scotland’s public radio at least. I myself unfortunately failed to adhere to the occasion, what with my laptop and headphones in front of me and a freshly acquired Moha! album I succumbed to temptation. I still however think that, impractical or genius, this day seems to make sense. It made me consciously think, and recognise, my ignorance towards the continual flow of music I feed myself. Then I thought about other music that crosses my path, in shops or in adverts, even the postman whistling his morning chorus. Music is an unavoidable aspect of our culture to the point where it’s presence is all but taken for granted. It has literally become part of the fittings of our society and while I question how possible it is to silence the harmonious elements around us, the effort of a days fasting can really go some way to helping our understanding and appreciation for this wonderfully expressive and meaningful medium.

It is no coincidence that No Music Day should fall on the eve of St. Cecilia’s feast day either. What a wonderful preparation for an overindulgence of music the 21st could be, and for this foresight I raise my beanie to Mr. Drummond. I do think it may be a little too ambitious to be fully realised, but even if it inspires just a moments consideration in folks for music in our environment it may be considered a success.

Back to the point at hand however in that today – the 22nd – is a day for music, and in light of this I have compiled a playlist of some really great songs from amazingtunes for you to lend an ear to (Click here). The styles vary and I’m sure there’s something for everyone in there – with no excuses as to why you haven’t clicked the link, what with it being the 22nd!

A quick mention goes out to Steve Mclaren, unlucky mate! At least we won’t have to go through the unimaginably painful process of deciding on a terribly weak and dull Official England Song for next summer’s European Championships.
Like this… [video] …if only you could see the look of contempt I’m now sporting after having just watched that.

…amazingtunes.com

…They all made me smile this week.

Avoiding the heavier topics I would usually approach with blogs, this week I want to document everything musical that has made me smile over the past seven days. After excitedly waiting, and subsequently missing the postman, i managed to collect my Sigur Ros DVD – Heima – from the Post Office and can highly recommend it to any post-rock and progressive music fan. With great delicacy the Icelandic collective seem to effortless create beautiful movements of sound, supported by the superb cinematography and editing that makes this DVD a series of epic tracks that could stand alone each as music videos in their own right. The band come across with great modesty and articulation, and my flat-mate has since realised she’s actually a massive Sigur Ros fan…

Following my many blogs that make mention to Sir Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke – in negative and positive lights respectively – I had a little smile this morning when i read that Yorke had snubbed a collaboration request from the not quite so green and liberal McCartney. “I asked Thom to do a duet” Said McCartney “but he said he couldn’t because he only felt happy working on his own and Radiohead’s material.” Not to worry Paul, I imagine Starbucks is not a regular haunt for Thom and the boys anyway.

But my biggest smile of all was reserved for stumbling across a long since archived letter from Elvis to the then President Nixon. While i don’t hold any prejudice against political stance, even in the musical realm where political agenda often seems predetermined against the liberal nature of musicians, to see such right-wing discourse from the King did make me chuckle. Wanting to help America combat things like the drug-culture, the SDS and – now this did make me laugh – “the hippie elements” Elvis went so far as to make suggestions that he be made a ‘Federal Agent-at-large’ in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. No chance of him going undercover really though was there.
You can read the letter here and other relevent documents regarding their correspondence and meeting here if you do so wish.

…amazingtunes