Simon Cowell seeks the next superstar DJ

Yes, you did in fact read that headline correctly. The X Factor's Simon Cowell has set out to find the next superstar DJ via his upcoming, as-yet-untitled talent show. Teaming up with Jada Pinkett-Smith and the folks at Overbrook Entertainment, Cowell has decreed, "DJs are the new rock stars. It feels like the right time to make the show." And why not!? Festivals sell out in a days time, Coachella is dominated by dance in 2012, and well, when was last time you turned on a Top 40 station and it didn't sound like Top 4-to-the-Floor? (They should call that "Top 4-to-the-Floorty.") I'm expecting heavy handfuls of hate for even bringing the subject to anyone's attention, but it's a topic that needs to be discussed. So please vent, rant or wax poetic in the comments section below and let us know if you also feel the earth is inching closer and closer to oblivion with each new reality show —or if you'll be auditioning yourself. And Simon, if you're still looking for a title, might we suggest The Reals of Steel?

Giorgio Gaslini: Incanti | CD review

Born in Milan in 1929, Giorgio Gaslini has been one of the major figures of European jazz for six decades, although remaining virtually unknown in Britain. He made his first recordings as a bebop pianist in 1948, composed the score for Antonioni's La Notte in 1960, recorded with Steve Lacy, Don Cherry and Gato Barbieri, and has written symphonies, choral works (A Conversation with Malcolm X), operas and ballets. His latest album, recorded live in a theatre in Messina last spring, finds him returning to the piano for a recital of pieces drawn mostly from the classical repertoire. But Gaslini is no Jacques Loussier: there is no formula at work here. Instead, the music of Fauré, Monteverdi, Tchaikovsky, Bartók and others is filtered through a remarkably acute sensibility, at its most effective in his reimagining of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance (divorcing the tune from the usual association with its jingoistic words, which the composer hated) and his spare, perfectly poised examination of Handel's Lascia Ch'io Pianga. A softly glowing gem.

Berlin’s Club Transmediale goes “Spectral”

Here in Berlin, we're eagerly gearing up for the launch of Club Transmediale, an annual festival dedicated to advanced club music, experimental sound and multi-media. This year's theme is "Spectral," a topic that will resonate with listeners who have been tracking recent developments in hauntological audio and capitalist meltdown alike. The festival begins this Friday, January 27, with the opening of the Ghosts Off The Shelf exhibition featuring installations and works from the likes of Felix Kubin and Ursula Bogner; it kicks off in earnest next Monday, January 30, and runs through Sunday, February 5, with a packed lineup of concerts, lectures, workshops and club nights. Highlights include a CDR masterclass with Morphosis and Pole; the Silicon Tuned event at Berghain featuring Mark Fell, Kangding Ray, Sendai, and Byetone; critic Geeta Dayal's chat with James Ferraro and Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never); and performances by Qluster, Mouse On Mars, The Haxan Cloak, Cut Hands, Anworth Kirk, Mohn (Wolfgang Voigt and Jörg Burger's new ambient project), Holy Other, oOoOO, Balam Acab, Kuedo, Heatsick, Ital, Ben Frost, Mika Vainio, Ancient Methods, Grouper with Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Tim Hecker, Shlohmo, Hudson Mohawke, Anstam, Lando Kal, Harmonious Thelonious, Hieroglyphic Being, Kassem Mosse, Cristian Vogel, Oval, Thomas Fehlmann, and Perlon's Mara Trax, Baby Ford, Sammy Dee, and Zip. Check out the full program on the festival's official website, and stay tuned for more reports from the festival.

Roger Cicero & Big Band at the Philharmonic

Roger Cicero plays on 27.03.2012 together with his Big Band at the Philharmonic in MünchenAm 27.03.2012, the German pop and Jassmusiker Rogero Cicero plays with his big band at the Munich Philharmonie am Gasteig. This concert is part of "This Moment" tour, which according to the new album, Roger Cicero's total has already been named fourth. Looking back on his career says a young Berliner: "The success was not fast, if you look at my life, but it rather suddenly. And also pretty solid, I had three years neither the time nor mind to handle anything. "

2006 was his first work, "men things" appeared, followed by 2009 two more highly acclaimed albums, over 300 concerts and countless dates. "I had it all to me first place. The success brought securities, which had not been there before in my life and I now, as a family man, do not want to miss. In return, he raised the expectations of me and my music - especially my own. But the most important finding was that success makes it possible to do things that before I 'men things' could only dream about - namely, to realize my musical ideas without compromise. "

This diagnosis was followed by the inevitable break-up of more closely now to become swing corsets, and in fact brought piece by piece at the recent album "Animal". Although this style of Roger Cicero and style owes much to: the elegant sound of the '50s playing surface offered only for a small part of his vocal abilities.

Cover songs you've never expected. Episode 7: We Are Enfant Terrible

La Vie Est Belle Mes Enfants 300x300 cover songs you've never expected. Episode 7: We Are Enfant Terrible
The 7th Issue of our cover songs-section is devoted not only this single cover, but actually the whole of the new EP We Are Enfant Terrible. The words "La vie est belle, mes enfants," and contains 4 tracks cover of Serge Gainsbourg, Beck, Jacques Dutronc, and New Young Pony Club.
The latter particularly interesting for me, since "Ice Cream" in the original is one of my alltime favorites, also meets the version of We Are Enfant Terrible Covers for two otherwise unusual factors: first, a song is copied, that's not too old (2006) secondly, it is rendered in another language. And is now called "CE QUE TU veux de moi."

Did the two tracks cross-examined and have to say: Although I am generally averse to French music legally, the new version of wat rocks neat, overall the two tracks are very similar, if I like the voice of NYPC better. You are spoiled for choice - the best smile icon to hear both cover songs you've never expected. Episode 7: We Are Enfant Terrible.

Diagrams is the new project of Sam Genders

Sam Genders, the former (co-) frontman and songwriter from Tunng. "Black Light" released on 13 January, the debut album on Full Time Hobby, which is one of the first highlights of the new year.

To find out: This fresh, minimalist and yet varied pop, which is peppered with effects, synth bass, programmed beats and low-key funk grooves - reminiscent of the Super Furry Animals, Arthur Russell, Metronomy, Hot Chip and Peter Gabriel. It is arguable that there is a new, playful electronic side of songwriting is Genders.

The album, "Black Light" holds together but also Genders experience, who has gone in recent years by some "black" phase: "I like the idea that good and evil or light and darkness are not always so obvious and clear. Sometimes the worst experiences lead to the best things in life. Life is full of good and evil, light and dark. So it is nunmal ... "