Erik Hassle competition!?!

Drum roll please...

We are pleased to announce Musick's first every competition! Whoop, whoop. Now, we're not asking you to draw us a picture, write us a poem or take part in an elaborate pyramid scheme in the hope of stealing your money and running away to live in Antigua. No, all we ask is that you, er, send us an email.

Those kind people at Island Records are giving us two free tickets to see 'bound to be big in 2010' Swedish singer, Erik Hassle. If you're unfamiliar with his work you should listen to this and this, or re-read something we did about him here.

The gig isn't like a normal gig, it's like a party but with a real life pop star performing. It's in a secret location (all we know is that it's an apartment!) in East London and no-one will know where it will be until the last minute. You will also need a password to get in. It will be like Skins, only real. There will be free alcohol on tap, so you have to be over 18 otherwise we'll all get in trouble with the law and we don't want that do we?

Here's a (very small) poster that contains a lot of the information we've just given, but in a much more graphic style:



The gig is on Thursday 17th December and all you need to do is email mcragg@hotmail.com to be in with a chance of winning. You might get to meet Musick too, although don't let that put you off.

Also, you can download a video of Erik covering 'Someday' by The Strokes by clicking here.

Next week we'll be giving away a hot air balloon ride with Little Boots.

It's not just a Phraze

A little while ago we did a thing about the return of Julian Casablancas following a few years hanging out in New York generally avoiding doing any new stuff for The Strokes. The album Casablancas has made is called Phrazes For The Young and we were all warned it was a bit of a departure. Basically, guitars were out and keyboards were very much in.



Well, the first fruits of his labour have emerged in the form of new single, the brilliant '11th Dimension'. WARNING: Do not listen to this expecting to hear something like 'Last Nite':



Woah. It's a multi-layered, synth shagging, processed-guitar type pop behemoth and will no doubt split fans of The Strokes right down the middle. We especially love how it ends up being a completely different song at the end to that which fizzes into view at the beginning. Most importantly, it sounds like Casablancas is having a ball too, his voice more strident and engaging then he appears on some of The Strokes latter material. There's even a bit where he just goes "woah" for no reason! And a keyboard breakdown!

You can't please everyone though. This was left under the video on youtube:
"what the hell is this scandelous (sic) peice (sic) of crap"

Phraze out

Hands up who remembers The Strokes? OK, hands down. Hands up again if you can name their second and third albums...ah, I see. Well, just when we all thought it was safe to assume the band had reconvened to record their fourth album, news emerges that Julian Casablancas is to release a solo album this autumn.



The bizarrely titled Phrazes For The Young was written and arranged by Casablancas, produced by Jason Lader and Mike Mogis (the latter of Bright Eyes and The Concretes 'fame') and comes with this early-graphics-were-cool-in-Tron-type teaser trailer thing:



The music that accompanies the trailer is probably not what your average Strokes fan was expecting, but given the fact that Casablancas has recently been moonlighting with everyone from Pharrell Williams to Danger Mouse, it can't have been that surprising to find a dearth of rock guitars. Instead there's some vintage synths, a lovely noodly keyboard motif and some polite beats. There's a bit near the end where Casablancas steps up to the mic, a scene which caused the following comment from a youtube patron: "Julian.. you beautiful sonfobitch!" Sonfobitch indeed.