ShiGGa Shay’s highly anticipated debut EP, They Call Me ShiGGa is finally done! This 9- track EP showcases ShiGGa Shay’s storytelling skills. The 19 year-old hip–hop artist navigates topics such as gaining acceptance as a musician in Singapore to the loss of his father to cancer.

Since early 2011, the rapper has been diligently working on this EP, working with several producers such as Kartell Records producer extraordinaire Muzique (from Flight School), Noctune & Outcome (from Malaysia), Don Richmond, The Architek and J Doug (from the United Kingdom). The young performer is quietly forming his own personal style and brand of hip-hop.

The album has been mixed by both Muzique and Don Richmond and mastered by Tony Dawsey at Masterdisk in New York City.

They Call Me ShiGGa is released digitally on Saturday 12 May 2012 through his official site: www.shiggashay.com and as a physical album with bonus additional material in early June. Pre-orders for the physical copies can be made on the official site on 12 May 2012.

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE SPECTACULAR SPINNING SONGBOOK CONCERT

TO PREMIERE ON CABLE’S PPV AND VOD

Special Pay-Per-View Concert Performance with Surprise Guest Stars & Surprise Songs

Will Air Exclusively On Cable Starting May 7

Elvis Costello and The Imposters’ unique concert style wows audiences when he allows his set-list to be chosen by The Spectacular Spinning Songbook, a monumental game-show type wheel spun by fans. Now, for the first time, cable audiences around the country can join the fun with his first-ever Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video On Demand (VOD) special, Elvis Costello & The Spinning Songbook, an hour of surprise guests and surprise songs. It premieres on May 7 in High Definition PPV* and starts May 24 on VOD. The PPV concert will be available throughout May and June at various times in both SD and HD. (Highlights of the PPV and VOD schedule below).

The Spectacular Spinning Songbook made its first appearance in 1986 at the Beverly Theatre in Los Angeles during the “Costello Sings Again Tour.” Last year, Elvis Costello and the Imposters set out on The Revolver Tour and, for the first time in 25 years, Costello once again allowed his set-list to be chosen via The Spectacular Spinning Songbook, featuring songs from his latest critically acclaimed release National Ransom, plus new renditions of hits, rarities and unexpected covers. Expanded from its initial short run in the spring to encompass summer and fall dates, the tour was greeted by popular acclaim across the country, with Rolling Stone reporting, “Costello worked the stage like a burlesque-club emcee, cracking wise at a mile a minute and spinning a dandy’s walking stick.”

Elvis Costello & The Spinning Songbook is available for $9.99 (SRP). This one hour TV special was filmed at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater. The program is distributed to cable by iN DEMAND L.L.C. “Elvis Costello & The Spinning Songbook is produced by Christian Macklam and Aron Levine in association with Sea to Sky Studios and ReKon Productions.

Consumers can locate and order the special from their cable system’s PPV Event or VOD channels or find current play-dates and PPV channels by going to: http://www.indemand.com/product/view/287566, or cable system on-screen guides. SD telecasts can be found on iN DEMAND 1 or 3. The HD version is on HDPPV.

Below are select May and June airdates and channels (all times Eastern Daylight Time)*:

For more about Elvis Costello, go to his official site: www.elviscostello.co 

Or follow him on Twitter @ElvisCostello.

*The concert is available on most cable systems around the country on PPV and VOD. HD not available on all systems. Rating: TV-PG.

Elvis Costello & The Spinning Songbook – Below are selected airdates and times on various PPV channels including iNDEMAND1, iNDEMAND3 and HD PPV. The VOD offer will be available at all times On Demand starting on May 24. PPV airings are in May and June, 2012.

**Schedule Highlights – all times Eastern Daylight Time:

HDPPV Monday, May 7, 2012 8:00PM ET HD Premiere

Video On Demand** May 24-June 24

Other airdates SD and HD:

HDPPV Wednesday, May 9, 2012 6:00PM

HDPPV Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:00PM

iN3 Sunday, May 20, 2012 2:00PM

HDPPV Friday, May 25, 2012 5:00PM

iN3 Saturday, May 26, 2012 2:00PM

iN3 Saturday, June 2, 2012 3:00PM

HDPPV Saturday, June 2, 2012 8:00PM

HDPPV Sunday, June 3, 2012 4:00PM

iN3 Sunday, June 3, 2012 6:00PM

iN3 Tuesday, June 5, 2012 8:00PM

iN1 Wednesday, June 6, 2012 6:00PM

HDPPV Friday, June 8, 2012 9:00PM

iN1 Saturday, June 9, 2012 6:00PM

iN3 Monday, June 11, 2012 7:00PM

iN3 Friday, June 15, 2012 6:00PM

HDPPV Friday, June 15, 2012 7:00PM

HDPPV Friday, June 15, 2012 1:00AM

HDPPV Saturday, June 16, 2012 5:00PM

HDPPV Sunday, June 17, 2012 2:00PM

HDPPV Friday, June 22, 2012 8:00PM

iN3 Saturday, June 23, 2012 6:00PM

HDPPV Saturday, June 23, 2012 7:00PM

HDPPV Friday, June 29, 2012 8:00PM

iN3 Saturday, June 30, 2012 3:00PM

**Schedule may vary by system.

Jon Auer (The Posies/Big Star) is back with a new project – Dynamo Royale (with band mate/partner Tiz Aramini) – who are in the midst of recording a new album. Auer and Aramini are looking for funding of recording, CD manufacturing and other ancillary costs (approx. $8,000/-) and thus have listed this project at Kickstarter. If this interests you, then please check out the Kickstarter page and support generously.

Death and a Cure is the solo project of Australian singer/guitarist Ben Blondel. Since launching his debut EP in July 2010 Ben has won numerous awards including WAM (West Australian Music Industry Association) song of the year for his category, and more recently has featured his latest single ‘The Spin You’ve Got Me In’ on the West Australian Music Industry sampler.

There is much to be said about the beautiful music produced by this solo act. Drawing on inspiration from artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Dallas Green, John Mayer and Damien Rice, Ben has an honest, calm and soothing approach to his unique style of music that avid music lovers all want to hear. Every song has meaning and depth far beyond its face value for Ben, with messages that confront often inconvenient yet unavoidable truths that derive from both introspective thought and contemplation upon universal social truths.

Death and a Cure will be celebrating the release of his latest single ‘The Spin You’ve Got Me In’ with a short trip to Singapore in May 2012.

CHARLES J TAN – The tour will feature a special guest from Melbourne, CHARLES J TAN. He has recently released his video single, “What It’s All About” while finishing his tour in France recently. The self-managed singer/songwriter blends folk and soul in his EP, “The Pelham Sessions”, influenced by artists such as Iron and Wine, Counting Crows and John Mayer. Since the release of his debut EP, he has performed at festivals, showcases and residencies around the world through parts of Asia, America, Europe and Australia.

TOUR DATES

Wednesday 2nd May

The Pigeon Hole Cafe w/ Gentle Bones Show Starts 8pm Free Entry

Thursday 3rd May

The Prince of Wales Bar (Dunlop Street) Show Starts at 9pm Free Entry

Friday 4th May

Home Club (Identite 5.9) w/ Sya & The Summer State Show Starts at 8pm $12 Entry (with a free drink and entrance to Beat! after)

Saturday 5th May

The Prince of Wales Bar (Boat Quay Outlet) – Indie Night Death & A Cure as the Support Show Starts at 9pm Free Entry

(please note Charles J Tan will not be playing this show)

Sunday 6th May

The Prince of Wales Bar (Dunlop Street Outlet) Show Starts at 5pm Free Entry

LINKS

Death and a Cure: http://www.facebook.com/deathandacure/

Charles J Tan: http://www.facebook.com/charlesjtan/

4imaginaryboys is proud to debut cult indie legends, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, for a one-night-only concert in Singapore. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN will perform on 26 May 2012 (Saturday) at ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL. Singapore is the band’s choice of its first and only destination in Southeast Asia.

Details:

4imaginaryboys presents:

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – LIVE IN SINGAPORE

Esplanade Concert Hall

Sat 26th May 2012 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: $68, $88, $108, $128, $148 (+ $3 SISTIC Fee).

Ticket sales launch date: 11 May 2012

Tickets available via SISTIC:

Online (9am): www.sistic.com.sg

Tel (10am): +65 6348 5555

In person (10am): At all authorized SISTIC agents & box offices

Further information: http://4imaginaryboys.com/

Got this email from Brad Lyons/Oceanship -

Hey,

This is Brad of Oceanship. A while back you signed my mailing list. I’m this guy, if you recall (Youtube video):

I initially attempted to write each one of you in person, but my wrists broke down (no joke). I got to approx 600 people. It was a valiant effort. I was mailing you individually because this is something important to me. Forgive the group mail.

My new album effort is underway and it is going to be good. I have a video that you can view here:

Let me know what you think of the video by commenting, or feel free to drop me a line on the Oceanship FB page and I’ll respond.

With all the sincerity an email can muster, thank you for your support to date. Really.

Brad Lyons/ Oceanship

If you want to contribute to the fund to produce Oceanship’s 2nd album, you can do so here.

Official Site

Back after a 4-year hiatus, Corrinne May will be the first ever local artiste to perform at The Meadow, on the 2nd night of Rhythm with Nature, a series of events collectively held as part of the official opening of Gardens by the Bay.

Corrinne May’s highly-anticipated new album Crooked Lines has just been released in March 2012. It is her first new album in five years – since 2007’s Beautiful Seed. The first single “Beautiful Life” is garnering increasing airplay on radio airwaves. For more information, visit www.corrinnemay.com

Tickets go on sale 20th April 2012 via www.sistic.com.sg

Ticket price: S$38* (standard), S$45* (at the door)

*Ticket prices exclude SISTIC charges

Tour is a Four Letter Word is the headline concert at Rhythm with Nature, a series of events collectively held as part of the official opening of Gardens by the Bay.

Jason Mraz’s latest album Love is a Four Letter Word is slated for release on 17 April 2012. For more information on Jason Mraz, visit www.jasonmraz.com

Tickets go on sale 20th April 2012 via www.sistic.com.sg

Ticket price: S$98* (standard), S$112* (at the door)

*Ticket prices exclude SISTIC charges

(Press release)

Launch Entertainment has just announced the addition of a second show for Jayesslee.

Shortly after the show announcement last week, more than 1600 seats for Jayesslee’s concert in Singapore on 4th May was sold out in 5 hours after the tickets went on public sale. The newly added performance is slated for 5th May, a day after the original sold-out show.

“We are overwhelmed with the immense response and have been inundated with emails from disappointed fans who had missed out on getting tickets the first time round. We are glad that we are able to stage a second night for Jayesslee’s Singapore stop, in an effort to meet the fans’ demand for tickets,” says Amos Boon, Group Managing Director of Launch Entertainment.

Jayesslee began their cyber domination when they started posting videos of themselves singing on Youtube back in 2009. The videos went viral very quickly, propelling them to Internet stardom with more than 300,000 subscribers and over 58 million video views on their Youtube channel.

Singapore is the first stop in this 8-cities tour, which will kick off at the iconic and newly revamped Kallang Theatre.

Tickets for the new date will go on sale on Thursday, 5th April at 9am via www.sistic.com and 10am at all SISTIC outlets islandwide. Limited Meet and Greet passes are also available for purchase. For more information, interested parties can visit the organiser’s official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/launchgroup).

<< EVENT INFORMATION >>

Event: JAYESSLEE ASIA TOUR 2012

Date: 4th May 2012, Friday

5th May 2012, Saturday

Venue: Kallang Theatre

Time: 7.30PM

Tickets: 1) Standard – Cat 1: $78, Cat 2: $58 & Cat 3: $38

2) VIP Package – Cat 4: $98 & Cat 5: $78

(includes 1x M&G pass, 1x autographed poster + a photograph with Jayesslee)

**Above prices do not include SISTIC handling fees

(Press release)

We are bringing Greyson closer to you with a new venue that will allow you to indulge in Greyson’s powerful vocals! The Festive Grand Theatre™ provides a setting that is more intimate and personal for you to enjoy the up and rising star up-close!

For more information on Greyson visit www.greyson-official.com.

For more information on Camryn visit www.camrynmusic.com.

TICKETING details:

Greyson Chance Live in Singapore, with special guest, Camryn

Date: 18th April 2012

Venue: Festive Grand Theatre™ at Resorts World™ Sentosa

Tickets: S$125, S$115, S$97 & S$70 (all prices exclude booking fees)

Tickets available from 9th February 2012.

Purchase at all authorized SISTIC Agents and Box Office, online at www.sistic.com.sg, via the iNETS mobile app (SMS to 76387) or call the SISTIC hotline at +65 6348 5555.

(Press release)

Back by popular demand, Youtube sensation Jayesslee is set to bring their Asia tour to Singapore this coming May.

Clocking over 300,000 channel subscribers on Youtubesince their cyber debut in 2009, Janice and Sonia have captivated audiences all over with performances in many countries, including sold out shows in Thailand and Singapore.

Armed with angelic faces coupled with sweet personalities, these social media sweethearts make it easy for one to fall in love with them with their infectious energy and carefree stage performances.

After much eager anticipation, the vivacious twins from down under are finally ready to take on Asia and enchant the audience in a night filled with melodious indulgence.

Singapore is the first stop in this 8-cities tour, which will kick off at the iconic and newly revamped Kallang Theatre come 4th May.

Ticket prices start at $38 and will go on sale 28th March at all Sistic outlets islandwide and also made available online via www.sistic.com.

Do not miss your chance to catch them live in this one night only performance.

EVENT INFORMATION

JAYESSLEE ASIA TOUR 2012

Date: 4th May 2012

Venue: Kallang Theatre

Time: 7.30PM

Tickets: $78, $58, $38

**Above prices do not include SISTIC handling fees

In the Singapore indie music scene, playing at the Late Night @ Esplanade series is a benchmark for any local indie band. For Cheating Sons, a band that only released its debut album in February last year it’s been a quick ascent to this particular summit. Of course, as its manager (and biggest fan), I’m probably expected to say that! That all said, Time Trails has certainly given the band the opportunity to flex its artistic and creative muscles to present a music show it can call its own. In this respect, we must thank The Esplanade for its faith, belief and support.

The first quarter of 2012 has been spent on two fronts – recording the new album and preparing for Time Trails - this process somewhat overlaps as the gig will only feature new material – the new album in fact – and so it has been a challenge for these two processes to be undertaken in parallel. Apart from the usual administrative and logistical headaches (all settled now, I hope!), the added pressure of working in several guest musicians (including yours truly) has also presented exciting possibilities. All things considered, the guest musicians have added a dimension to the new music that it’s safe to say that fans of Cheating Sons will be pleasantly surprised by how different the band sounds now.

For me personally, this will also be the first time I’ve ever performed at the Esplanade Recital Studio and I am going to savour every minute, believe me. It’s been a thrilling ride with The Sons so far and based on the new material that’s coming together it feels like the journey has only begun! All that’s left for me to say is that I hope you will get your tickets whilst they’re available cos it’ll be Cheating Sons as you’ve never heard them before and all the craft and artistry that everybody involved has put into Time Trails will make your $25 investment a worthy one…in the meantime, check out the wonderful video teaser by Nick Pan (if you haven’t already) and we want to thank SONY Electronics for its generous loan of the NEX-VG10E handycam that made it possible. Still there’s more…

Tickets on sale at SISTIC. Like Cheating Sons at Facebook.

Poster design by Andy Yang.

Songbird is a Singaporean singer whose music fuses heartfelt lyrics, bouncy rhythms and saccharine pop melodies into radio-friendly tunes. Her first single, “Maybe”, is a sun-soaked ditty that shows off Songbird’s gift for balancing complex emotions with lighthearted flair. Songbird will make her debut at The Singapore Arts Festival from 24 to 27 May 2012. Book your seats at www.hellosongbird.com.

Back in late 2008, our writer Adam Gregory raved about Passion Pit‘s Chunk of Change EP describing Passion Pit as “a blast of fresh air”. Since then, the band has released its debut album – Manners – in 2009 to critical acclaim with songs placed on TV (Big Love), video games (FIFA 10), a performance at the Glastonbury festival and an opening spot on the last Muse US tour cementing its burgeoning reputation. Now the American electropop band makes its way to Singapore as it supports the upcoming release of its sophomore full-length effort in June 2012.

Details:

Date: Tuesday, 21st August 2012

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Tickets are priced at $48, $69, $88 and $98 (excl SISTIC fees). Promoter Greenhorn Productions will make an announcement as to when tickets go on sale so stay tuned!

Facebook event page

(Press release)

Steel Pulse Announces Spring Tour Dates

Look Out For New LP This Year

Steel Pulse may have explored various styles of music since they started out in 1975, but when it comes to the message, the UK’s Grammy – Winning reggae band has remained close to their roots. The Group have continued their commitment to fighting injustice, educating the masses, and promoting positive messages through spiritually uplifting music.

“We just can’t ignore the politics, because every life and soul that’s born on this earth is a political manoeuvre for someone, at some point”, Hinds explains. “From a spiritual aspect, it’s really an upliftment through facing reality – what’s out there. We deal with positive spirits. It means putting aside the guns, the drugs and all of the things that are ailments of society – especially in the black communities right now”.

The band have always taken their causes to heart, filing a $1 million class action lawsuit against New York City’s Taxi & Limousine Commission. The group charged that cabbies refused to pick up blacks and especially Rastafarians throughout the streets of New York. 2012 commemorates the 20th anniversary of this action.

Steel Pulse is the only UK reggae group to win a Grammy. In 1986, Babylon The Bandit Album won the Best Reggae Album category. Their international success earned them further Grammy Nominations for their albums, Victims, Rastafari Centennial, Rage & Fury, Living Legacy and African Holocaust.

Invited guest appearances include Arsenio Hall, ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno, The Montel Williams Show and ‘Late Night’ with Conan O’Brien. The Rev. Al Sharpton, Jay Leno, Branford Marsalis, C Thomas Howell and Robert Townsend have all had cameo appearances in Steel Pulse videos. The band have been joined live on stage by artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder to the Stranglers and have performed live with Bob Marley & the Wailers, Sting, Inxs, Santana, Robert Palmer, Peter Tosh, Herbie Hancock and Bob Dylan, amongst others. A collaboration with Spike Lee on the Do The Right Thing movie soundtrack in 1989 resulted in David’s composition ‘Can’t Stand It’ featuring in the movie.

In 1993, at the request of the Clinton Administration, they became the first reggae band ever to perform during the inaugural festivities at The White House

Steel Pulse, started out performing on the British punk scene with groups like Generation X as part of the Rock Against Racism movement was founded in the Handsworth section of Birmingham by Hinds, and core members Selwyn Brown and, Steve Nisbett. Their original Bass player, Ronald McQueen, named the group after a popular racehorse.

2012 has seen the release of Rocksteady a film co-starring David Hinds and featuring the band’s live members. The Hind’s track Rocksteady was composed especially for the movie.

January 2012 saw the group perform in Haiti for the first time. The track Hold on 4 Haiti was written as result of the earthquake and they have been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars for the relief effort with Partners in Health. Previously the band made a massive contribution to Hurricane Katrina.

Steel Pulse are currently working on a new album which will be released later in the year and also a documentary of their long career which features live footage and interviews.

Steel Pulse is David Hinds (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar and Selwyn Brown (Vocals, Keyboards).

Tour Dates

4/11 – Marquee Theater – Tempe, AZ

4/12 – House Of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

4/13 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA

4/14 – Sway Pool – Las Vegas, NV

4/19 – House Of Blues – North Myrtle Beach, SC*

4/20 – House Of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL*

4/21 – The Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL

4/22 – The Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL

4/24 – Jannus Live – Saint Petersburg, FL*

4/25 – Freebird Live – Jacksonville, FL

4/26 – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL*

4/27 – New Orleans Jazz Festival- New Orleans, LA

4/28 – La Zona Rosa – Austin, TX*

4/29 – Sam Houston Park – Houston, TX

* With Soja

(Press release)

KittyWu Records presents BITCH MAGNET for a one-night-only performance at HOME CLUB on Friday, 13 April 2012. Formed in the fall of 1986 by Jon Fine (guitar) and Park Sooyoung (bass and vocals) and Orestes Morfín (drums), BITCH MAGNET have been recognized as a significant influence on generations of aggressive and musically complex bands, including Mogwai, Don Caballero, Rodan, June of 44 and Battles.

BITCH MAGNET, inactive since 2004, had their entire remastered Bitch Magnet catalog, plus six previously unreleased tracks, released as a triple-CD and a limited edition triple-LP in late 2011 by Temporary Residence Limited. It was greeted by rapturous critical responses from outlets ranging from the New York Times to Total Guitar, including four-star reviews in Rolling Stone and Mojo and a five-star review in Uncut.

The post-hardcore pioneers reunited at All Tomorrow’s Parties “Nightmare Before Christmas” festival in December 2011, and the band also performed a handful of dates in the UK, Europe and Asia in late 2011. Those performances marked the first onstage appearance of the band’s original recorded lineup – Morfin, Park and Fine – since 1989.

BITCH MAGNET will be joined by Singapore band AMATEUR TAKES CONTROL.

Event Title: KittyWu presents BITCH MAGNET (US)

Event Date: Friday, 13 April 2012

Event Time: Doors open at 8pm

Venue: HOME CLUB, 20 Upper Circular Road, #B1-01/06, The Riverwalk

Tickets: SGD25 (Advance) / SGD30 (Door)

Purchase advance tickets from http://kittywurecords.wordpress.com/events/bitchmagnet/

The Mosaic Music Festival (MMF) is back bringing to our shores bands/artists that cover a wide range of ‘genres’ and musical styles. Some are world-famous and some are obscure but the unifying tread amongst them is the programmers’ belief that these bands/artists can provide that ‘one magical musical moment’ as Esplanade chief Benson Puah states in the official MMF programme.

Certainly, MMF appears to cater to every taste imaginable and scanning through that programme, I would like to highlight the events that would probably appeal to PoP visitors.

OMD Saturday 10 March Theatre

Elbow Saturday 18 March Concert Hall

Russian Red Sunday 11 March Recital Studio

Blind Pilot Sunday 18 March Recital Studio

Architecture in Helsinki Friday 9 March Theatre Studio

Craft Spells Saturday 10 March Theatre Studio

Los Campesinos! Saturday 17 March Theatre Studio

Also of interest will be ‘up close and personal’ sessions with OMD, Russian Red, Craft Spells, Blind Pilot and Los Campesinos! at the Esplanade Library on the day of the performances.

For more information, check out the official site.

The last time UK 80s-influenced dance pop band Friendly Fires played in Singapore, it was as opening act for Faithless. This time, the band returns to perform a full set on Friday, 16th March at Avalon. To these ears, the band really reminds me of the fag end of the 80s electronic movement when synth-pop totally dominated the UK charts. I’ll leave it to you whether I think that was a good thing or not. In any case, Friendly Fires is certainly a buzz band at the moment and at least the rhythmic patterns of its songs do extend beyond the ubiquitous disco beat that too many young indie dance bands rely on nowadays.

Event details: -

Doors open at 7.30pm

Venue: Avalon, Marina Bay Sands (Table reservations, contact alfred@avalon.sg)

Tickets: Advanced $58 / Standard $70 via www.ticketbooth.com.sg

Presented by Untitled Entertainment.

Designed by Gene Whitlock

I hate the word ‘blog’. Worse still, ‘music blog’. Power of Pop is a website not a ‘music blog’. And Power of Pop will always be a vehicle for my personal views and opinions. This website will NEVER become a corporate music blog. That is a promise. I started this website in 1998 and whilst there have been hiccups along the way I am glad to say that we move into our fourteenth year in the pink of health. Sure, the website does not generate any revenue but that was never the goal – it has always been about the music.

When I started Power of Pop, I defined ‘Power Pop’ as Pop music with Power and this term transcended genre as my idea of Pop was/is very inclusive. Thus, I want to go back to that ideal that only music that fits that criteria will be featured on Power of Pop – I want this website to be the kind that seriously talented and innovative artists/bands would give their eyeteeth to be featured on. No compromises.

There will still be news items, gig reviews, band interviews, local music coverage in the general context of pop culture significance but when it comes to reviews, I am going to exercise much more quality control. There might be less reviews but when an album is featured, you can rest assured that it is music that has passed the Power of Pop test of excellence.

Thank you for your kind attention and I look forward to more years of support. Please leave comments if you have any at our newly minted Facebook page.

Has it really been a year since thousands braved the rain at the inaugural Laneway Festival in Singapore? Yes and on 12th February 2012, a host of popular alternative pop-rock luminaries will thrill audiences at the Fort Canning Park, where hopefully the weather will prove more hospitable than the last time out.

Here’s the Power of Pop guide of the day’s proceedings for your kind consideration.

The day will begin with Cults, who is scheduled to kick off the festivities at 1.50pm (Stage One). This buzz band is riding on the fuzz-Spector-derived-pop wave that is sweeping the indie-alternative scenes worldwide. 90s alt-rock revivalists Yuck then bring Stage Two to life at about 2.30om. Synth-pop duo Chairlift come on at 3.15pm (Stage One) before electronic trio Austra at 4pm (Stage One)

Then at 4.45pm (Stage One) Girls, one of the bands to watch, brings its retro-delic rock n’ roll to the mix and then post-punk outfit The Drums (who visited our shores in 2011) gets us dancing at 5.25pm (Stage Two). The seductive Anna Calvi (6.15pm, Stage One) and new wave-channeling Twin Shadow (7.05pm, Stage Two), two distinctive solo projects.

Laura Marling – another major highlight – will provide warm acoustic vibes at 7.50pm (Stage One) beforeThe Pains of Being Pure At Heart turn on the noise at 8.40pm (Stage Two). Still with me? Into the final lap,Toro Y Moi brings exotic, progressive beats to the affair at 9.30pm (Stage One) and then indie rockette Feist delivers heartfelt sophistication at 10.20pm (Stage Two).

And… if you’re feeling a little tired by then… trust The Horrors to spice things up with its brand of post-punk/new wave retrospectives (11.15pm, Stage One) and as Sunday becomes Monday, hot electronic band M83 will end the festival on an extremely high note at Stage Two!

But… after all’s said and done. Are you ready Singapore? And have you got your tickets yet?

Tickets available at SISTIC.

It’s no secret that I sometimes wish that I was born at a much later time. Being a young person during the 70s and 80s when rock music was considered ‘yellow culture’ by the Singapore Government (and heavily suppressed) meant that I missed watching my favourite bands coming down to Singapore to play. Of course, the Singapore of 2012 is totally different from the Singapore of 1982, where rock concerts of contemporary popular bands happen almost every week.

Thus far, I have been fortunate enough to have been able to catch a few musical heroes from this era viz. The Police, Elvis Costello, Elton John, Echo & the Bunnymen, Lloyd Cole and even Bob Dylan. Come 10 March 2012, I can add Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark (OMD) to this rather short list as the band play the Esplanade Theatre.

OMD was instrumental in getting me to jump on the post-punk bandwagon back in 1980. I was struck by the band’s performance of Enola Gay in the post-punk/new wave film Urgh! A Music War and the rest, as they say, is history. OMD quickly became one of my favourite bands and I consider the first three albums – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Organisation & Architecture and Morality – to be essential listening for any scholar of the synth-pop epoch.

Back when OMD released its strong comeback album – History of Modern – I was fortunate to be able to interview Andy McCluskey (whom together with Paul Humphries form the core of OMD) via email but now am looking forward to actually speaking to the duo by phone very soon (for TODAY) ahead of their performance during Mosaic Music Festival (MMF) 2012. I can only hope now that I will get a chance to meet my heroes sometime in March. What say you, MMF organizers???

Tickets now available at SISTIC.

Originally posted on 1 Feb 2012

Designed by Frankie Pan

Slightly more than a year after Cheating Sons released its well-received debut album – Masters, Wives, Daughter – the band will be playing its sophomore effort in its entirety at the Esplanade Recital Studio for Late Nite @ Esplanade – Time Trails. Unfortunately, that second album will not be completed in time for this event but think of it as a extended teaser of the delights to come.

In addition to my role as band manager, I will also doubling up as keyboards player for this gig and believe me when I say that if you liked the tracks on the first one, the new material will blow your minds away! If you have caught any of the Sons’ shows in the last year you would be familiar with the likes of Jefferson, Amber Lights, Pale Rider, To Dance with the Devil and The Shadow Opera. As great as the aforementioned tracks are, the new songs up the ante somewhat and mine 60s rock n’ roll wonderfully as traces of the Beatles, Stones, the Band and Dylan are clearly evident together with the Sons’ own inimitable style and sound.

Of course, Power of Pop (together with the newly minted Cheating Sons website – to be launched soon) be showcasing the Sons’ preparation – both for the new album and the upcoming gig. It’s going to be exciting 2012 for Cheating Sons fans. If that’s you then first thing you need to do is quickly purchase your tickets for Time Trails at SISTIC.

… still there’s more …