Feeling the midday blues? We’ve got some tasty afternoon treats in the forms of tracks, videos, and news tidbits from around the interwebs that are sure to get you through the afternoon.
Arcade Fire To Score New Spike Jonze Movie
It seems that forthcoming Big Day Out co-headliners Arcade Fire have got more than just their October-released new studio album’s worth of new material ready for fans (and we’re not talking about their recent Peter Gabriel cover).
The Canadian art-rock collective have crafted the film score to Her, the new film from quirky director Spike Jonze. The film follows a near-future Los Angelean resident played by Joaquin Phoenix who buys the world’s first fully-functioning AI domestic robot, and falls in love with the droid, voiced by Scarlett Johannson.
Her’s Arcade Fire soundtrack is not the first time the band have crossed path with Jonze. Their tune ‘Wake Up’ was used in the trailer for the director’s filmic adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are before Win Butler and co roped in Jonze for the band’s experimental short film Scenes From The Suburbs. (via Telegraph)
Frank Ocean Appears On New John Mayer Album
Australian fans and Splendour attendees are probably still smarting from the cancellation of Frank Ocean’s Australian Tour, but fresh news from the neo-soul singer’s camp reveals that the Odd Future associate will be returning a favour owed to John Mayer, who contributed guitar to Ocean’s Grammy winning debut channelORANGE (on tracks such as ‘White’ and ‘Pyramids’). Frank Ocean sings on ‘Wildfire’ on Mayer’s album, Paradise Valley – out this month – which also includes an appearance from *ahem* sparring partner, Katy Perry on a track called ‘Who You Love’. (via Rolling Stone)
Unreleased Bob Dylan Song Appears Online
An unreleased Bob Dylan track, a cover of 18th century English folk song ‘Pretty Saro’, has turned up online. Recorded during sessions for his Self Portrait album in March, 1970, Dylan apparently recorded six takes of the song but it wasn’t included in the final tracklisting. The tune has been wheeled out by Columbia Records from their extensive Dylan archives as they raid the vault for a new boxset, entitled Another Self Portrait, to be released on 27th August featuring rarities from the Nashville Skyline, New Morning, and Self Portrait records. The tune (as heard below) is a sweet lil’ ditty, reminding that Dylan’s singing wasn’t always so croakey. (via NME)
Napster Founder Invests In Live Music App
Sean Parker, the American entrepreneur behind controversial music P2P service Napster and the first ever President of Facebook (y’know, JT played him in The Social Network) is one of several high profile investors who have kicked $1.2 million into WillCall, a concert discovery and ticketing app. The investment will help improve the iOS and Android app’s services as well as expand its reach beyond the US. WillCall works by seeking out local concerts and gigs with the ability to purchase tickets, merchandise, or even ‘tip’ the performing artists. Given Sean Parker’s history for backing winning horses in the online world (give or take Napster supposedly crippling the music industry), WillCall may just edge its similarly themed music app competition such as Songkick and Bandsintown. (via HypeBot)
Childish Gambino Is Making His Own Music-Themed Sitcom
Donald Glover, aka popular rapper Childish Gambino, aka soon-to-be-ex-star of Community, aka writer for 30 Rock, aka envy of underachieving 29-year-olds the world over, is developing plans to write, executive produce and star in a television sitcom set in the Atlanta music scene where he was raised. The half-hour show, working title Atlanta, is being developed with US network FX because they were happy to accommodate for his touring schedule, says Glover. Let’s hope it’s more like FX hit Louis, from comedian Louis CK, and less like Kanye West’s (thankfully) aborted HBO series. Enjoy the carnage. (via NME).
