Matthew Ryan is releasing a new album world wide on April 1st, according to his blog on MySpace it will be called MRVSS.  There is also video material to go with it as you can see below

Links:

• http://www.indian.co.uk/matthewryan/
• http://www.myspace.com/matthewryan

When I first started hearing about reunions such as The Police and The Eagles I didn’t see this as a bad thing, in fact I have to admit I found the idea exciting, particularly given that all the musicians concerned are successful in their own right.  Then came the Spice Girls – and my feelings where ho, hmm, what ever floats your boat.  But recently we’ve heard of Yazoo reforming and now according to Idolator, New Kids On The Block are due to announce that they to will get back together.

This leaves me feeling that the record companies are adopting the same approach as the mid-80s when CD came out falling to the easy thing – recycling old material/artists rather than investing new artists and records.  Now they say that when times get recessionary or even plain tough retrenching can be harmful, as anyone who even invests a little will make grounds over you.  Now if this is true, then the record business (or at least the major labels) who claim that they are struggling now are on the verge of committing suicide.  Lets hope that I’m wrong.

Aside from the previously mentioned releases by Thea Gilmore and Kathryn Williams we’re also watching out for:

• Dido (yes I know not most original things to get excited about)
• Van Morrison – Keep It Simple (March)
• Joseph Arthur – We Could Survive EP, Crazy Rain and Boredom EP (and several others from March onwards)
• REM – Accelerate (April)
• Daniel Lanois – Here Is What Is (March)
• gutter Twins – Saturnalia (March)
• Coldplay
• Peter Gabriel
• Gnarls Barkley
• David Gray
• Kaiser Chiefs
• The Killers
• Madonna
• Massive Attack – Weather Underground (?)
• Mercury Rev
• Moby – Last Night
• Muse
• Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero Part 2
• Jewel
• Counting Crows
• Starsailor
• U2
• Morcheeba – Dive Deep
• Mike Oldfield- Music of the Spheres
• The Delays – Everything’s A Rush (April)
• The Verve
• Duffy – Rock Ferry
• M83 – Saturday-Youth
• Thea Gilmore – Liejacker
• Kathryn Williams – Two
• Alanis Morissette – Flavors Of Entanglement
• Matrthew Ryan – MVRSS (April)
• Jamie Cullum
• Paul Weller – 22 Dreams (June)

M83 have announced on their MySpace site that their follow to last summer’s Digital Shades will be released in April.  The album will be called “Saturdays=Youth”.  The album shows influences from the likes of Tears For Fears and Cocteau Twins.  For more information check out M83’s MySpace web pages at http://www.myspace.com/M83.

There is a fair of excitement about the likes of Adele and Duffy as up and coming female singer-songwriters.  However, I am pleased to say that I’ve just heard that the Mercury Prize nominated female singer-songwriter that can easily match these new hot things, Kathryn Williams is releasing a new album.  The album called Two is a collaboration with Neill MacColl (Kirsty MacColl’s half brother and respected folk musician).  Samples of the album can be heard at their new website http://www.williamsmaccoll.com/.  The album is due out on the March 3rd.

To support the album Kathryn and Neill will be touring, more information on their website, along with a single on 24th February through iTunes (unfortunately).

More information about Kathryn Williams can be found at:

• http://www.kathrynwilliams.net/ 
• http://www.myspace.com/kathrynwilliams

3ality Digital are releasing a 3D (visual & Audio) film of U2 on stage.  Dates for the UK cinema general have been set for a major release in late February.

According to their website (U2 3D: The First Live-Action 3D Concert Movie ) the 3D effect is achieved without needing ‘gimmicky’ tricks. Presumably by gimmicky they’re refering to the old fashioned colour glasses.

3ality’s website doesn’t explain how it work, but does quote a number of journals which have made glowing reviews of it.

Just over a year ago the music press got excited about the next Massive Attack album to be called Weather Underground and had meant to be released later in 2007.  A year later and not a word on what is to happen about this release, so what happened?