Following an inspiring hiatus where she toured extensively with some of the world’s most notable artists, West London’s Izzi Dunn is ready to return with her scintillating second album Cries And Smiles.

Cries And Smiles is the latest unique chapter from a self-sufficient musician (she writes, produces and plays most of her own material) who has already had a remarkable career. As a cellist she’s played for the likes of Mark Ronson, Gorillaz, Chaka Khan and Soul II Soul. Izzi has also graced the cream of the UK music scene with her talents, The Brand New Heavies, Roots Manuva, Beverley Knight, Jamelia and Bugz In The Attic are just a few of those who have benefited.

The new album showcases her skills as a versatile singer-songwriter who has some important things to say. Her distinctive, soulful voice is on full display. However, her skills as a cellist and arranger, continually honed since childhood, are an indispensable aspect of proceedings. There are no sampled strings here people.

Tits and Ass is the first single from her new album, which expertly and bravely derails the sexism and hypocrisy that many take for granted. This is her announcement and calling card that the album is coming soon.

The single will be available as digital download and limited 7 inch that won’t take long to become a highly sought after collector’s item!!

www.izzidunn.co.uk
www.myspace.com/izzidunn

Following on from the successes of debut album ‘House Of Commons’, Bradford’s finest White Light Parade will release their brand new single ‘We Start Fires’ on 13th July 2009 through Split Records.
The second single to be lifted off the album, ‘We Start Fires’ is a real call-to-arms anthem backed by ‘Rebellion Call’ a suitably defiant collaboration with King Blues frontman, Itch in the making, showcasing the band’s ability to write shout-a-long choruses with a catchy hook and an impassioned message. It’s backed by ‘Rebellion Call’ a suitably defiant collaboration with King Blues frontman, Itch – a fan and friend of the band. The two tracks will be released digitally and on 7” vinyl on July 13th.

‘Wicked Way’, the second single from Benjamin Taylor’s third album, reveals the humour, wit and skill of this gifted singer-songwriter. Written with collaborator and friend David Saw ‘Wicked Way’ is a tongue-in-cheek tale of honest lustiness in which the niceties of the pursuit are deemed irrelevant when all the guy wants is sex:

“I just want to take you out and get you drunk so I can have my wicked way with you. I’m just being honest ‘cause I know the other guys are thinking just the same way too”

Making music is as natural as breathing to Ben who is as comfortable in both his own skin and with his impressive musical legacy. The son of James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben’s life was always centred on music, although he spent several years travelling the world, developing a deep appreciation for the earth and the outdoors. His acclaimed previous releases include his debut album, Famous Among the Barns, and Another Run Around The Sun, which was hailed on Radio 2 as “LP of the Week.”

The Legend of Kung Folk – Part 1 (The Killing Bite), released in April 2009, drew further acclaim for his blend of acoustic-folk-pop. Live sessions on Radio 2 and a sold out UK tour, on which he was joined by David Saw and bassist Ben Thomas, revealed him to be a entertaining live performer and Ben will return to Britain to play on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on June 26th.

“I’ve had four summers in the UK without ever having attended Glastonbury so that is time enough to have heard many, many, many good and great things. I plan to shake my ass.” – Ben

Single Released July 20th 2009, From the album The Legend of Kung Folk – Part 1 (The Killing Bite)
‘Wicked Way’ listed at #2 on the Best Songs (Folk) on iTunes in America for 2008

Website: www.bentaylormusic.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/bentaylorofficial

Quotes from The Legend Of Kung Folk
“an easy way with heart-melting melodies, not to mention a great voice” – BBC online
“There’s a translucence to Taylor’s songs that is rare in today’s folk rock” – Rolling Stone
“move over Rufus and Teddy – there’s a new famous kid on the block” – Uncut
“sweet-voiced……with an immaculate pedigree” – Daily Telegraph

Tabasco Sole is the new single from The Voluntary Butler Scheme, aka 23-year old West Midlander Rob Jones. Think of The Jackson 5’s I Want You Back crossed with a Mellow Gold era Black County Beck through Jim Noir’s psych tinged observations, and you’re not far off the poptastic sound of this boombastic track.

“I was trying to write a really non-sensical tune with words that have a party rhythm,” says Rob. “So it was me trying to do a tune that wasn’t about hot babes, even if the choruses are.”
Rob composed the track on Christmas day (after dinner, and having listened to a Motown compilation with assorted family members) and recorded it, like the rest of his output, on his ultra-basic home set-up in Stourbridge (“just a bedroom full of wires and keyboards,”).

The Voluntary Butler Scheme is an entirely solo pursuit “I’m a total hobby-ist when it comes to recording – I love the process,” says Rob. “I get a big kick out of working on my own, and if I’m bored, or not feeling it, then I just stop.”

On the B-side, there are treats aplenty in new track Split, an ace Akira The Don mix of Tabasco Sole and a wonderfully ramshackle cover of the Giorgio Moroder/Phil Oakey classic Together In Electric Dreams.

“I recorded Electric Dreams cause I was fed up of the stuff I was writing and just wanted to get nerdy on some recording,” says Rob. “I’d heard that tune on the telly the day before and didn’t even realise it had verses, so I had to learn them quick when I was tracking.”

The single will later be found on The Voluntary Butler Scheme’s debut album, The Voluntary Butler Scheme at Breakfast, Dinner, Tea, which is currently being mixed and will be released in July.
The Voluntary Butler Scheme’s previous singles have been championed by the NME, BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music and XFM, and Rob has played sessions for Huw Stephens, Marc Riley, Dermot o’ Leary and Jon Kennedy. Declared “one to watch” in publications as diverse as Q magazine and The Sun, even that old nutty boy Suggs has stepped out and declared himself a fan.

As for the name, it comes from Rob’s time living near Bourneville, where voluntary work schemes were set up for laid-off Rover workers at the Longbridge plant.. “I imagined a voluntary butler scheme – it made me laugh for about 10 seconds – and I haven’t laughed at it since!” says Rob.

The David Saw video for ‘Buy My Record’ has a great Bob Dylan ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ feel to it without using the obligatory ‘cardboard swapping’ effect.

Musical innovator Panjabi MC is back with another classic single, ‘Snake Charmer’ on May 4th through PMC Records.

Taken from his new album, ‘Indian Timing’ out this summer, ‘Snake Charmer’ brings Panjabi MC’s addictive blend of bhangra, hip hop and dance back to the UK with serious intent to blow up the club scene once again, as he did in 2003 with his award winning hit ‘Mundiyan To Bach Ke’.

‘Snake Charmer’ has already been a massive success across the bhangra dance floors of India where his latest album went straight in at #1, and he’s set to smash records again throughout the UK with this track while anticipation for the UK release of the new album ‘Indian Timing’ also heats up.

‘Snake Charmer’ is immense and has been on rotation on all music stations across Asia for months and is finally ready to take hold of UK club floors too.

Following on from Panjabi MC’s massive hit in 2003 he travelled across the globe performing in clubs, on festival stages and for TV audiences. P’s music is now listened to by people of all colours, cultures and races all over the world. The sound of Bhangra has finally crossed over to the mainstream.

Panjabi MC was the first Asian artist to take Bhangra to the next level, thus gaining him an award at the World Music Festival in Monte Carlo. The success of Mundian To Bach Ke was taken to another level when Jay Z featured on the record and rapped two verses. This led to a white label craze and artists such as BabySham, Twista and Beanie Man all wanted to be a part of the Bhangra sound.

PMC has picked up numerous awards along his pioneering musical journey winning Best Dance Act at MTV Europe, UK Act of the Year at the Mobo’s and Best Dance Track in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Having played to audiences in virtually every country in the world, PMC is excited to be back with this single and very shortly with a brand new album he brands as “20 tracks of Panjabi Magic.”

Welcome back Panjabi MC, we’ve been expecting you!

Benjamin Taylor will be releasing his first single, ‘She’s Gone’ from his new album ‘The Legend Of Kung Folk’ on April 20th in the UK.

The video was directed by Jon Seidman and can be seen below.