[Listen] The Vaccines Offer Up Laid-Back Summer Single "Melody Calling"

The Vaccines' sophomore album Come of Age was really that; the 2012 LP really showcased the maturing sound of the British rockers, them coming of age. Moving away from the youthful naivety of their debut album What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?, their second outing was grittier and generally louder. That's why this new track draws some curious looks. Not bad looks, mind you, just curious ones. Premiering on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show, "Melody Calling" is less grimy and brash than anything we've heard from the band before. Recorded in Los Angeles, it's a carefree, summery jam, more emblematic of a day of surfing and smoking weed than rowdy mosh pits at a festival. Nonetheless, it's pretty good. Check it out below and let us know what you think of The Vaccines' new direction.

[Listen] Disclosure Debuts J Dilla-Sampling "Grab Her!" on BBC Radio

Disclosure continue to kill it with another brand new track titled "Grab Her!", which they premiered during Zane Lowe's Radio 1 Big Weekend. The track is a body-shakin' number that samples hip-hop's late, great J Dilla. Check it out here (forward to 1:43:40).

"Grab Her!" is one of many fantastic samples of Disclosure's fast approaching debut album Settle, due out on June 4th.

Settle Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. When a Fire Starts to Burn
03. Latch (feat. Sam Smith)
04. F for You
05. White Noise (feat. AlunaGeorge)
06. Defeated No More (feat. Ed Mac)
07. Stimulation
08. Voices (feat. Sasha Keable)
09. Second Chance
10. Grab Her!
11. You & Me (feat. Eliza Doolittle)
12. January (feat. Jamie Woon)
13. Confess to Me (feat. Jessie Ware)
14. Help Me Lose My Mind (feat. London Grammar)

[Listen] Disclosure Debut Bangin' New Track "F For You"

Disclosure dropped by BBC's Maida Vale Studios today, where they performed a live in-studio session for Zane Lowe's radio programme. During the session, Howard and Guy Lawrence debuted a new track from their upcoming debut album Settle, a slick banger titled "F For You." Pulsating with a four on the floor beat, the song is catchy as hell. As per usual, these brothers are killin' it. Stream it below along with in-studio performances of "You & Me" with Eliza Doolittle and "You Used To Hold Me" with singer Natalie Duncan.

[Listen] Vampire Weekend Perform Six New Tracks Live on BBC Radio 1

Vampire Weekend made their way across the pond this week to pimp their upcoming album Modern Vampires of the City. During their visit to the UK, the group performed live in session at Maida Vale studios for Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 programme. During the performance the vampires performed six new tracks, including "Everlasting Arms," "Obvious Bicycle," "Step," "Ya Hey," "Unbelievers" and "Diane Young," along with some of their classics like "A-Punk" and "Diplomat's Son." Stream the whole performance below.

Vampire Weekend's BBC Radio 1 Setlist:
"Holiday"
"White Sky"
"Obvious Bicycle"
"Everlasting Arms"
"Step"
"Ya Hey"
"Diplomat’s Son"
"Unbelievers"
"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
"A-Punk"
"Diane Young"

[News] Frank Ocean Confirms New Album in Progress

Frank Ocean revealed to BBC radio host Zane Lowe that he is indeed working on a new album, confirming this during a recent interview Lowe's Radio One show. Ocean said that he has made significant progress on the album, about "10, 11 songs into this next thing". He added, "it's another cohesive thing, bordering on a concept record again. At the end of channel ORANGE there's 'Golden Girl,' and it's this beach scene, and I kind of wanted to extend that feeling to the next album altogether, and kind of make it that theme. So I'm going to Bora Bora when I get back."

Ocean also mentioned that he plans to work with Danger Mouse and King Krule, that he and Pharrell have been hanging out, and that he’s a huge fan of Tame Impala. Stream the full radio interview below.

UPDATE: It appears Frank Ocean has been recording with Depeche Mode, frontman Dave Gahan revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Apparently Ocean was in the studio next to the band, spoke Gahan. He continued, saying, "I was singing, Martin [Gore] on guitar, a few of the other guys. Suddenly in the doorway, I sensed this presence, and I realised there was this guy standing there just watching. An assistant came up to me in between songs and said, ‘Do you mind? Frank Ocean is here working in another studio and really wants to meet you guys.’ I wouldn’t have thought he would have even known who we are, but it turns out he’s a big fan."

Who knows whether or not the recordings will make it onto Ocean's sophomore album, but we can all just drool over how good that would sound

[News] Scroobius Pip To Release Solo Album Featuring Sage Francis, Zane Lowe, P.O.S. & More

This came as a curve ball for a Thursday afternoon. Scroobius Pip has announced his solo album Distraction Pieces on September 19th on Speech Development. Don't fret though in case you're wondering about his old partner in crim Dan Le Sac, they'll begin work on a new album in the new year so before that take a look at the album deets.

With the help of producers Yilla and Worgie he's roped in cso colaborations from some big hitters. The album will feature Renholder (aka Danny Lohner NIN / A Perfect Circle), Richard Russell (XL), Steve Mason, Sage Francis, P.O.S. Zane Lowe, B Dolan and Aupheus. Th ealbum is said to be a collision of Punk, Rock and Hip Hop influences. If you want to be all up on this, and who could blame you, he'll be appearing with new live band at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on 18th August! Be there.

[Listen] Chase & Status - "Hitz" Feat. Tinie Tempah

 

Earlier today BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe had Dubstep heavyweights and SKoA favorites Chase & Status in the legendary Maida Vale studio to perform some of their hits and talk about their upcoming album No More Idols. But thats not all folks! CnS premiered a brand new track off their No More Idols titled "Hitz" featuring the UK's current Hip Hop heavyweight Tinie Tempah. The story behind the title is that people expected the collaboration to be a mainstream hit but the track is "as street as it gets" according to Zane Lowe and I tend to agree. You know the track is so fresh if Zane had rewind in the middle of a track, which he never does, because of how amazing this track is. Don't think so? Listen to it for yourself below.

[Listen] Arcade Fire Maida Vale Session & Interviews With Zane Lowe

What can I possibly say about this band right now that hasn't already been said? Arcade Fire had one of their biggest years to date and their 3rd studio album The Suburbs has featured in just about everyones Top-Ten list and that includes Zane Lowes and Radio Ones, thus last night (December 15th), they broadcast an Arcade Fire Special. The show featured a profile on the band and talks with locals in Montreal about how the band aren't seen as celebrities in their chosen hometown. If you liked this band already after the show you will love them.

The special then culminated with a Maida Vale session with interview with Win and co in-between tracks which also gives us little snippets of information regarding certain tracks origins and how some of the new albums songs differ in a live situation such as "Sprawl II" and it's synth and weird time signatures that can mess with the crowd when trying to clap along.

After the jump you can listen to all of the performance along with the interview with Zane. They performed "The Suburbs", "Ready To Start", "Modern Man", "Rococo" and "Sprawl II", all of which gave me the chills. A breathtaking performance from a band at the top of their game. There was even more good news as they say the band plan to tour for another year until 2012 chimes in. So if you get the chance check them out Live next year! They were my definitely my highlight of Festival season this year. Enjoy.

Arcade Fire - Radio 1 Special Session by Some Kind of Awesome