-----FORWARDED MESSAGE------
The Blake Sound Returns With The Release Of The Second Album, And So It Goes, By Top British Boyband
Blake, the award-winning boyband whose uniquely harmonious fusion [ARE YOU SURE?] of popular, classical and operatic numbers [ISN’T OPERA CLASSICAL?] epitomise the zeitgeist of modern feel-good music [HOW? AND FEELGOOD IS ONE WORD], are releasing their long-awaited [BY WHOM?] second album And So It Goes.
Their debut album, Blake, went straight in at Number One in the UK classical album chart and hit the Top 20 in the UK pop album chart, going gold within three weeks. It subsequently catapulted the boys to a stunning success at the Classical Brits Awards where it won the coveted accolade as Album of the Year as voted for by the public.
Now And So It Goes looks to build on the band’s remarkable success in capturing the hearts of a devoted and fast growing audience from across the spectrum [EXACTLY HOW FAR ACROSS THE SPECTRUM DOES THEIR FANBASE EXTEND?] of music lovers.
Featuring a range of songs including (Chasing Cars, Time To Say Goodbye, The Closest Thing To Crazy, Up Where We Belong, Nella Fantasia and a unique take on Wild Mountain Thyme) [DO WE NEED TO EXPLAIN THE USE OF PARENTHESES TO YOU?] the album showcases the passion and virtuosity of four very British boys, all trained as choristers who met on Facebook [LEARN ABOUT COMMAS PLEASE. THIS SUGGESTS THERE ARE PEOPLE TRAINED SPECIFICALLY AS CHORISTERS WHO MET ON FACEBOOK] just 18 months ago and quickly realised that together they had something uniquely [OH, LEARN WHAT UNIQUE MEANS AGAIN, YOU IDIOT!] special to offer music lovers.
Their soaring harmonies, youthful energy and genuine charm touched a chord with a wide range of fans who quickly identified with the Blake Sound [WHY THE CAPITAL?] as something fresh and distinct, almost redolent of the Boys [PRESUMING THE BOYS ARE BLAKE THEMSELVES, SINCE YOU’VE ALREADY CALLED THEM ‘THE BOYS’, THEN IT’S NOT SURPRISING THEIR RECORD IS REDOLENT OF THEM] with its harmonies and vibes and yet operatic in some of its crescendos [DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SAYING? REALLY?].
On stage Blake are currently [AT THIS VERY MOMENT? AS I READ THIS? ARE YOU SURE?] performing to audiences totalling well over 100,000 fans in their supporting role on the Katherine Jenkins Stately Homes Tour and they will be bringing their on-stage blend of passion, charm and charisma to supporting the popular soprano again at the end of the year in an extensive arena tour throughout the UK.
They are also taking their music to a global audience this year with tours in Japan and Australia on the frenetic schedules [HOW MANY SCHEDULES HAVE THEY GOT FOR 2008 THEN?] for 2008. Among the many who have expressed their love of the Blake Sound [CAPS AGAIN!] include Keira Knightly, Kate Middleton and Kevin Spacey who have all been wowed by the band’s music and on-stage presence [GIVE ME THE QUOTES TO PROVE IT. THIS SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY].
To demonstrate the reach of their appeal, the band has also brought Twickenham to its feet, before a ball was played [‘BEFORE A BALL WAS PLAYED’? IF YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SPORT, DON’T TRY TO SOUND LIKE YOU DO], with their stunning rendition of the England Rugby anthem “Swing Low”.
As well as devoting themselves to their music, the band also spends time individually and collectively supporting two charities close to their hearts which work ceaselessly for Britain’s armed forces and the loved ones who also pay the ultimate price for their heroism [GOOD FOR THEM. BUT THIS SUGGESTS THE LOVED ONES ARE PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR HEROISM. ARE RELATIVES OF SOLDIERS REALLY PERFORMING HEROIC DEEDS AND BEING KILLED AROUND THE UK?] - Help For Heroes and War Widows.
The new album has been described as one of the most awaited musical events of 2008 [BY WHO EXACTLY?]. Fans will not be disappointed [FANS RARELY ARE - THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THEM].
For Press Information including interview and photo requests, plus review copies, please contact anthony@ianmonk.com or elizabeth@ianmonk.com at Ian Monk Associates.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
A Lost In Showbiz Masterclass In Action
This LiS reader - based deep within a global media colossus - has taken exception to almost every part of the following PR email and has, in turn, given it a thorough going over. I have nothing more to add - let the Fiskology begin:
Oh No! All This Cosmic-Bruk-Funk Has Led To An Explosion Of Broken Boogie Beats!
If I ran a PR school, my first lesson would consist of sitting everyone in front of a huge blackboard on which I had daubed the legend, "Never Attempt To Be Groovy - It Is Excruciating." Sadly, no one's told Paddy at Universal Vibes, so he ploughs on and on as if he's filling a bit of space on an unloved page somewhere near the back of a mouth-breathing idiot-fest like iDJ. Or, as LiS regular has it:
OK, this just makes me feel old, but then again it also reads like an amazing piece of bluffery from someone who's never actually heard any dance music, and thus I salute it.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [label@universalvibes.com]
Subject: universal vibes-press release-uv006
Hi
Here's our next digital release, with a link to download the full quality mp3 package...please drop us a line and let us know what you think (good or bad), and of course if you're going to review let us know....
for CD requests, feature coverage, more info, love, insults or any other form of communication, reach out to: label@universalvibes.com
Cheers
PADDY FREEFORM
www.universalvibes.com
Universal Vibes Label Update
UV006:
TIM SCOTT
SEASON OF CHANGE PART 2
TRACKS
1) BST
2) Diagonally
3) Season Of Change- (Tim Scott mix)
4) Season Of Change- (Chris Barker mix)
5) Slow burner (Soulphonic remix)
For this release we welcome Tim Scott back to the label and revisit the second release (Tim's Season Of Change ep). Season of Change part 2 features two new tracks as well as 3 remixes from the first ep
First up, new track BST sees Tim in a disco/house frame of mind, creating a warm chugging groove full of smooth Rhodes keys, arpeggiated synths and choppy guitars over a solid boogie drum pattern. THIS IS GOOD, KEEP GOING! The second new track, diagonally is a downtempo track with Tim's distinct sound coming right through, part Balearic,part urban groove over heavy beats. RIGHT ON!
Season Of Change was the lead track on the first EP, a warm, beat driven vocal piece of quality soulful music. Featuring the vocal talents of Neve, over Tim's bumping beats, aimed squarely at the dancefloor and here it gets 2 heavy remixes. First up Tim himself gives the track a full broken beat dub treatment, chopping the vocal and sitting it behind electronic synths and the kind of heavy beats and basslines that would fit right in at Co-op. I GUESS YOU DON'T MEAN THE SUPERMARKET? Next up Chris Barker steps up and turns the track into a cosmic-bruk-funk stepper. WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM! Chris Barker makes heavy broken beat and house bangers. INNIT! Although a relatively new producer to the scene, he has DJ'd at heavyweight institutions like Chibuku Shake Shake and Jigsaw Music. He also works alongside Si Murray (Cronk Family Enterprises) on material, some of which is bringing on support from major underground players like Still Music.
Finally, label head Paddy Freeform THIRD PERSON! I LIKE IT! turns in a remix of Slowburner under his Soulphonic production alias. He takes the midtempo disco infused groove, ups the tempo and dubs it right out YEAH! before overlaying warm synths and 4/4 tech beats to drag the track into a darker corner of the dancefloor. DON'T STOP - OH, YOU HAVE!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Who's For More Anxiety And Disdain?
Here's a great marketing idea, why not employ someone to tell every journalist in the country that your new record is an unmitigated disaster? Oh! You have! This absolute copper-bottomed classic just in from an LiS reader situated behind a large desk at a central London media hub:
Either the album "draws on many defining facets of the Faint's sound" or it sounds "completely different from anything else they've put out". It can't do both, Rachel. As for the rest of the paragraph, words fail me...
----- Forwarded on 02/09/08 16:19 -----
"Rachel Silver \(Silver PR\)"
[rachel.silver@silverpr.co.uk]
To: Rachel Silver
Subject: THE FAINT'S NEW ALBUM "FASCIINATIION" IS OUT 29TH SEPTEMBER/UK TOUR DATES - REMINDER!
Fasciination is an album that draws on many defining facets of The Faint's sound, while remaining completely different from anything else they've put out. BRILLIANT START! Todd's voice sounds less human than ever before GREAT!; the bass lines are more mangled OH, REALLY?, keyboards spiral and squeal out of control UH-HUH; electronic pings and stabs invade the melodies, WHAT? ALL OF THEM?; the lyrical anxiety and disdain of previous albums pervades almost every song. AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M OUT...
Literacy, Not Amazing
If you employed someone to send press releases to journalists - lots of whom might be uninterested, or positively hostile, to the crapola you're flogging - wouldn't it be sensible to make sure they had basic literacy skills? Capping stuff up, regular use of bold, just the barest hint of the idea whoever has sent it thought you might not only read it, but might, oh Jesus, actually act on it? Well, perhaps a few more PR companies might like to consider these points before they allow the gumph to leave the building otherwise, some over-emailed, woundingly sarcastic journalist may send the results to Lost In Showbiz with a note that reads:
Dear Lost In Showbiz
How's (how are) things?
I was wondering if you could do a blog story on Adam at PPR's terrible press release writing skills?
I have pics.
Can you cover this at all?
Begin forwarded message:
Monday, 1 September 2008
Great Band Names That Only Exist In Otherwise Unremarkable Press Releases: 1
"Ladies and gentlemen, will you please make a lot of noise for... Elvis Presley's Concealed Weapon Application Fingerprints!"
The Cream Is Over
This is the sort of press release that makes being alive just that little bit more painful than it needs to be. In equal measures witless and declamatory, a small part of you wants to die when you think it's someone's job to email you a load of guff about a nitespot you have no interest in whatsoever. This LiS reader from a leafy corner of North London clearly feels that pain:
How does this release detract from the otherwise simple glory of my day-to-day life? Well:
1. The phrase "dance supremos" makes my breakfast rise in my gullet.
2. The idea that you "come of age" at 16 is, clearly, nonsense. A quick glance here will confirm that.
3. Cream: "one of the world's most influential club's", one of the world's most influential club's what?
4. Does anyone else find the idea of hanging out at "one of the world's longest running superclubs" as unnappealing as me? Surely people are over the whole superclub thing now? That sculpted-bearded, jewellery-jingling DJ playing "big room" tunes to gormless rave cattle nonsense?
Oh dear :(
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