Monthly Archives

February 2014

A man of many names

By | Music

By Tej. S. Haldule

How exactly is one to introduce a veritable institution in modern music? The critically acclaimed underground legend Sasu Ripatti (aka Vladislav Delay) has been at the forefront of so many genres and sub-genres of electronic production as to defy expectation.

Over the years after his breakout release (Vocalcity, composed under the moniker Luomo when he was only 25, remains an oft referenced landmark in house music), Ripatti has only gone from strength to strength, mastering house, techno, dub, experimental, ambient, jazz (he’s originally a percussionist) and whatever else he chooses to dabble in – he’s a polyglot with the Midas touch. It’s impossible to condense Sasu Ripatti’s output into this space, so to find out more about the artist, read his biography here.

Luomo – The Present Lover (Play this video in Creation 5)

In this revealing interview, the reclusive genius (he lives in near isolation on an island near the Arctic Circle) behind the many monikers speaks out.

You’ve been putting out music under a different name for nearly every sub-genre you experiment with. Why choose to do this when output from a single pseudonym can be far more recognizable to listeners? Don’t you want a familiarity to exist?

First off, I’m really not about being recognizable or having a brand or any such thing. Overall, it just feels right to give differing names to different projects or concepts. I like to produce and be involved with lots of different kinds of music, and they don’t always go hand in hand. To me, it wouldn’t make sense to put out the material I do as Delay and as Luomo under the same alias, it would be rather confusing for people. What really matters, actually, is that it doesn’t feel right to me. I’m all for confusing people, after all.
Often people are only aware of a certain strain of my music, or like a specific project.

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Not only do you perform and record as a percussionist in the Moritz von Oswald trio (headed by Moritz von Oswald, one of the fathers of 90s techno), but you also have your own experimental jazz quartet. This is, of course, besides your electronic output as Luomo, Conoco or Sistol – not to mention Vladislav Delay. That’s a mammoth oeuvre. How do you manage it all?

From my perspective it’s the other way around. Had I only been making experimental ambient music for the past ten years, for example, I’d need professional help. I can’t imagine restricting myself like that. Again and again I come back to the analogy of food. There’s no way I would eat any food for more than a week in a row, no matter how good. And the same goes for my favourite albums: there’s a limit after which (the music) just doesn’t work anymore, you need variety. Making music is exactly the same thing. There’s a whole world out there, why would I stick to one genre? It makes no sense to me.

But this also means that you can’t keep doing everything all the time. I’m not working on Luomo/ Conoco/ Sistol nowadays, and I recently stopped playing with the Moritz von Oswald trio as well – it’s time to move on and do other things. There are other collaborations and projects to look forward to. I don’t like to get stuck on a particular thing and, more often than not, things eventually tend to slow down creatively. It’s hard to bring new fire into a project sometimes.
In the end, it’s just waveforms that you try to create emotions with. This tempo or that tempo, this mood or that… I’m rather omnivorous.

Vladislav Delay – Whistleblower (Play this video in Creation 5)

In 2011, Animal Collective invited you to perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties that they curated. How was the experience?

It was one of my better shows for sure. A dedicated audience and a massive high quality PA – what more could one ask for? I also enjoyed seeing some bands that I had no idea existed, trendy indie stuff and acts I wasn’t very familiar with.

Vocalcity is my personal favourite Sasu Ripatti album – like all your best work, none of the cinematic tracks dips below ten minutes in length. Do you believe longer, free-flowing compositions afford the artist greater scope?

It’s not that simple. I often seem to just need time to build things, and I don’t really work well with the ‘three minutes thirty seconds’ format (even when it’s something relatively pop-like, such as Luomo). I’m in no rush, I don’t need to shorten tracks for any practical reasons, and I like to take my time. Lots of the music I’m influenced by is also lengthy and developing in structure, although I do enjoy some mainstream forms of music that clock in at 3:30 each and every time – no surprises there. It’s difficult for me personally to make short tracks, let’s put it like that. There’s always too much to say, too much to put into a very short format; but I never try to extend tracks intentionally to make them long. I’ve done smaller pieces, and some of them are my favourites. I have, slowly, also perhaps become slightly better at arranging and composing and need less time to say what I want to say musically.

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Where did the ideas for Luomo and Vocalcity come from? What propelled you to try to inject emotion and warmth to the niche sub-genre of micro-house at such a young age? Did it not daunt you, a task that would daunt even a far more experienced and mature artist?

I didn’t care at all, to be honest. I had no idea what house music was, never mind micro-house… it was one of the least interesting forms I could ever imagine listening to. I really hadn’t even heard any actual house music, just the cheap commercial stuff off the radio. For me it was never about house music: it was about pop music. I never wanted to start a band for my pop or vocal music. Electronic backing, however, suits me well when I choose to write pop with vocals. It’s just a vehicle.

Back then I was doing lots of ambient stuff and getting a little bored of it. I was garnering attention for said ambient stuff, and the labels attached to me bothered me to the extent that I decided to do something totally different. I had made strange electronica for years on end and I think I had a little breakdown or something.

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I knew a jazz singer from the time I was heavily into the jazz scene and used to play drums. I asked her and a keyboard player to join me. I just got on with it without much planning or thought. I remember the time I sent the first tracks to the label that released Luomo. They said there weren’t enough kick-drums… I remember I tried putting them in – and that’s the house thing I guess. It was a hard period in my life, personally. I was quite a mess and it was somehow therapeutic to write those lyrics and make emotional music.

What are your favourite places in the world to perform at, and why?

I have noticed I’m changing in this respect. It’s partly due to having moved to a remote location (an island in the Baltic Sea, near the Arctic Circle) which makes travelling rather challenging, but beyond that I have realized more and more that my main interest lies in the studio rather than in playing concerts. Don’t get me wrong, I like to play some good shows (and still do every now and then) – but the fact is also that not every show is a good one, and often unrelated to what you’re producing. Those tend to kill me every time a little bit.

Anyway, Tokyo and Kyoto are probably my favourite places followed by random smatterings everywhere. If it’s more dance-oriented music it’s often better the more south you go; for experimental stuff it’s often places where conditions are harsher, or at least less sunny. Still, these are stereotypes and they often fall short. Shows in Japan usually don’t fail, though. People are very considerate and interested in what you’re doing, there’s a certain dedication in Japan that’s more of a norm there than the random, surprise adulation you get elsewhere.

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You’re a Pitchfork darling, and arguably one of the most respected producers in the world today. What are your own inspirations? And what new talent have you heard that impresses you?

Am I a Pitchfork darling? I think they’ve routinely ignored everything I have done for years. I’m just not trendy enough.
My own inspirations are rather varied. Obviously there’s music, which has been a part of my life non-stop ever since I was a child. My first memories are almost all connected to music or other creative media.

Music in its many forms still inspires me: mainly older jazz, Jamaican, world music, hip-hop, classical. But I must say I’m connecting less and less with most of the music being made today, compared to some music I’ve truly been inspired by in the past. I still look for new stuff, but maybe less than I used to. It’s just that there’s so much, and not all of it is good. My time is limited. The music I listen to is therapeutic above all. I easily spend 10 to 12 hours in the studio every day, listening to stuff I’m working on. After that I really don’t want to challenge my ears, I want to do the opposite. More often than not it’s something like Bill Evans trio or Chet Baker or I-Roy or some entertaining hip-hop, maybe some solo piano music. Not the latest electronic assault, though; it’s too much. I must add that I generally just don’t like the sound of most music made in the past few years. I’m not contesting its musicality – just what it sounds like. I mean it’s fucking loud, and it’s over-processed, -produced, and pushed to its limits – often, nowadays, with cheap digital gear by people who don’t know much about the technical side of things… about the art of recording. There’s not much room for my own creativity to play around there because there’s no space. The music I love always has plenty of room to hang around and add your self to.

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Books have also been quite an inspiration, since both my parents are/were authors. Movies to some extent. Food and cooking to a much greater extent. I cook almost every day. My daughter is arguably the biggest inspiration of them all. I’m inspired by interesting people, from farmers and fishermen to artists and criminals and everything in between. I’m inspired by travel, what I see and learn and notice. There’s so much inspiration around, it just flows in…

Vladislav Delay is possibly your most famous and prolific project. Is there an especial stylistic attachment you have to it over your other work?

Somewhat. It’s more of my own thing than anything else I’ve done. Delay’s music is more expressive and true to my self, to the point that I don’t have to work all that much on this project as compared to the sportsman-like feeling I sometimes get when I’m making vocal or club music. There’s no intention or trying, I just let it go where it wants to.

Vladislav Delay – Huone (Play this video in Creation 5)

Despite the incredible adulation and critical acclaim most of you projects have received, you have, somehow, remained reluctant to toy with mainstream success. Was it a conscious choice to remain an underground artist?

Yes.

Sasu Ripatti chose our Sunday Sessions this week. Listen to them on YouTube!

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If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:

Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. Even if your friends don’t have Creation 5, with the link you send them they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.

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The Big Screen Experience

By | Hot News

Enjoy the Big Screen experience with Creation 5! Here are 4 easy
steps for streaming music and video using DLNA or AirPlay.

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SELECT A PLAYER. Firstly, choose your media
(music or video) from the main menu. Tap SELECT
PLAYER and choose a playback device – living room
TV, bedroom sound system, home cinema etc If
you’re using an iPhone or iPod, you’ll need to rotate
the device horizontally in order to see the player list.


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CHOOSE THE SOURCE Select the blue Music or Video
button and tap Sources. The iPad or iPhone is your default
Source. If you have a NAS that contains music & videos, this
will automatically appear in the list of Sources.


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STREAM & ENJOY Find the album, song or video
you’d like to watch, tap the title and press PLAY. If
you want to browse the folders of your NAS, enable
the ‘DLNA folder browsing’ filter.


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DOWNLOAD & GO! You can download music &
videos from your NAS or DLNA server for offline
playback! When downloading songs, firstly add
them to a playlist and then select DOWNLOAD
PLAYLIST.
For videos, just press and hold the name, then
choose DOWNLOAD from the options. You can
download MP4 format videos directly, other
formats require the Creation Movie Player
for conversion.
(Free download on the App Store)

 


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Gipsy Kings, 25 years of rumba rythms

By | Music

The Kings of Rumba are celebrating 25 years in the music world by releasing their first studio album for 7 years. Named “Savor Flamenco”, it is the first album in their whole career written and produced entirely by themselves. The Reyes and Baliardo brothers have once again succeeded in producing an unmistakable sound that blends rumba, flamenco, pop and Latin rhythms like no other.

The Gipsy Kings are Nicolás, Canut, Paul, Patchai and André Reyes, along with their cousins, the Tonino, Paco and Diego Baliardo brothers. Children of two Spanish gypsy families that fled from the horrors of the Civil War to the Southern French town of Arles. The Reyes’ father, Jose Reyes, was a renowned Flamenco vocalist, gaining the admiration of iconic cultural figures such as John Steinbeck, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, Miles Davis and Salvador Dali. As his children grew, Jose Reyes passed on his love of and passion for music to them. By the 1970’s, they formed Los Reyes, and began to gain a following in their community. Playing traditional Flamenco, the Reyes brothers performed with their father until his death.

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Nicolas and Andre began playing with the Baliardo brothers in the Southern French town of Arles. They traveled throughout the country, busking on the streets of Cannes, playing wherever they could—weddings, parties, festivals. Having adopted the perpetual motion of the gypsy lifestyle, they eventually translated “Los Reyes” and changed their name to the Gipsy Kings.

“Music has always been a passion,” says lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo. “Even after all this time, after all these years of touring and working. It has given us so much. We have matured, we have developed in music, and it has been so good for us.”

In addition to the release of this ninth studio album of completely new and original material, they have been touring the world to commemorate their 25th anniversary. They played at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 20, 2014 and bought the house down – one member of the audience had this to say: “I knew they were going to be good, I didn’t realise just how good. They had the Royal Albert Hall up all night dancing and singing. People were dancing up and down the aisles – such a great atmosphere.”

Gipsy Kings – 25th Anniversary / Plaza de toro de Arles (Play this video in Creation 5)

“Savor Flamenco” consists of 11 songs in the purest Gipsy Kings style: Great vocal harmonies, guitar riffs with touches of clapping, Tonino Baliardo solos and warm melodies from the powerful voice of Nicolas Reyes. The album was awarded as Best Album in the World Music category in the last edition of the Grammy Awards. It was the sixth nomination of the band in this category – a new record in the history of these prestigious music awards. The first single is called “Samba, Samba”, a song with the Brazilian flavor of beautiful beaches and wonderful parties.

Gipsy Kings – Samba, Samba (Play this video in Creation 5)

This song is the opening track of the “Savor Flamenco” album; titled “Caramelo”. A Flamenco and gypsy party, with a French accent.

Gipsy Kings – Caramelo (Play this video in Creation 5)

The Gipsy Kings legend began in the U.S. in 1988 with a self-titled album and record sales figures. Over 40 weeks at the top of the U.S. charts, so far unmatched by any French artists, with several gold and platinum albums. From there, they have had countless tours to the most remote corners of the planet and sales, which to this day, exceed 25 million albums. There are two legendary singles that have become immortal, “Djobi, Djoba” and the equally popular “Bamboleo”.

Gipsy Kings – Djobi, Djoba (Play this video in Creation 5)

Gipsy Kings – Bamboleo (Play this video in Creation 5)

Two years after the release of “Bamboleo”, the success of the band was already established worldwide. Music greats like Julio Iglesias and Celia Cruz have made covers of their hits. There is no party, festival, fair or celebration which has not played their songs.

The group’s next album, “Mosaïque” (1989), gave us another fantastic hit, “Volare”. This was their cover of the classic “Nel blu dipinto di blu” by Italian Domenico Modugno which won the San Remo Festival in 1958.

Gipsy Kings – Volare (Play this video in Creation 5)

It was in 1992, the year of the Expo in Seville and the Olympics in Barcelona, when the Gipsy Kings visited Madrid for the first time. Their album “The World” (1991) also ruled the charts with the single “Baila Me”.

Gipsy Kings – Baila Me (Play this video in Creation 5)

One of the most legendary collaborations of this Hispano-French band was in the film industry. The following is a scene in which the actor John Turturro shows his bowling skills in the great movie “The Big Lebowski” (1998), directed by the Coen brothers. The song is a cover of “Hotel California” by the Eagles.

Hotel California – Sequence from The Big Lebowski (Play this video in Creation 5)

The collaboration of the Gipsy Kings in the film world was only just beginning! We can hear their version of the song “Hay un Amigo en Mí” in the successful “Toy Story 3” (2010), by Disney Pixar.

Gipsy Kings – Hay un Amigo en Mí (Toy Story 3) (Play this video in Creation 5)

The Gipsy Kings, a band born in the 80’s, which has created its own particular style, born from the tradition of Flamenco, Rumba and other popular rhythms of world music. A great example of perseverance, unity, joy and passion. Here’s to another 25 years…

“Even though it’s been 25 years, we want to keep on making new music because it’s our life, it’s who we are,” says Nicolas Reyes. “But I think there will be a time when we pass down the Gipsy Kings to our sons.”

“They will take over what we have started,” says Canut Reyes. “This way the legacy will survive.”

27.02.gipsykings-2 Savor Flamenco – Tracklist 1. “Caramelo”
2. “Bye Bye (Ella Me Dice Vay)”
3. “Como L’agua”
4. “Tiempo del Sol”
5. “Me Voy”
6. “Fairies Melody”
7. “Samba Samba”
8. “Corazón”
9. “Savor Flamenco”
10. “Sueños”
11. “Habla Contingo”

Don’t have Creation 5? Download it on the App Store!

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If you are already using Creation 5 Media app, don’t forget that you can expand your music collection, for free, by downloading any of the video clips that appear in the above article.
Here’s how:

Open the video in Creation 5 – we have created links by the side of each song title for this very purpose, so just click on any of these and the video will open inside Creation 5.Once the video is playing inside the app, press and hold the song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options. That’s it! You can now find the video in your ‘Favorites’ folder.Press and hold the song title and choose SHARE. Even if your friends don’t have Creation 5, with the link you send them they will be directed to the App store where they can download the app for free.

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Search. Listen. Download. Save & Share.

By | Hot News

Here are some Hot Tips for using our very cool Radio feature.

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SEARCH. With over 40,000 radio stations
to choose from we’ve made it simple to select
one – search by the artist you’d like to hear.


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LISTEN. Like the song? Creation 5 will find the
YouTube video clip for you – just press and hold the song
title and choose YOUTUBE VIDEO from the options.


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DOWNLOAD. Like the music video? Want to keep it
in your collection? Press and hold the song title
and choose DOWNLOAD from the options and it’s yours!
Now you can watch it offline, even when you’re travelling
and have no internet connection.
(You’ll find the downloaded video in your Video Favourites folder)


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SAVE & SHARE. Loving a particular radio station?
Save it to your favourites so you can hit the same
grooves tomorrow! Just press ‘Add Station to Your Favourites’
and you’re done! You can also share the station with your friends
by pressing the ‘Share’ button.

 


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The Brits 2014 – showbiz as usual

By | Music

The 2014 BRIT Awards – the 34th edition of the British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop music awards was held at The O2 Arena in London on February 19, presented by James Corden.

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It was a fantastic evening at the 2014 BRIT Awards. It was so much more than just an award ceremony – there were plenty of surprises and comical moments that made it so very British (even though most of the performers were American). The ceremony was streamed worldwide on YouTube for the first time attracting millions more viewers. The highlights of the night were the following:

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1) David Bowie winning British Male Solo Artist Award was quite surreal – especially seeing as he wasn’t even there to collect his award. Instead he sent supermodel Kate Moss “who is his representative on earth” to say a few words on his behalf. Noel Gallagher came on to announce the winner saying “You maniacs didn’t think David Bowie was actually going to be here, did you? He’s too cool for that, he wouldn’t do this shit.” Kate Moss then read a short speech on his behalf, which included the brilliant line: “Kate is from Venus and I from Mars,” and then ended with “I’m completely delighted to have a Brit for being the best male – but I am, aren’t I Kate? Yes. I think it’s a great way to end the day. Thank you very, very much and Scotland stay with us,” (referring to the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence).

Arctic Monkeys open the show with ‘R U Mine’ (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

2) The Artic Monkeys opened the show with a stunning performance of “R U Mine” playing behind massive flaming A and M letters. They won Best British Group and Best Album for the third time. Alex Turner gave a great acceptance speech, very Rock and Roll: “That rock & roll eh? It just won’t go away. It might hibernate from time to time… but it’s always waiting just around the corner, ready to smash through the glass ceiling, looking better than ever.” He then dropped the microphone (on purpose) telling the organizers to “invoice me.”

The awesome Katy Perry gave an incredible neon-Egyptian inspired performance of ‘Dark Horse.’ (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

3) Brilliant performances from the Americans gave the show it’s star spangled quality. Bruno Mars gave a very slick performance of Treasure – what an incredible showman he is, very deserving of his International Male Solo Artist award. Katy Perry wowed everyone with her neon-Egyptian performance of ‘Dark Horse’ and Beyonce sang XO in public for the first time – it was almost too glittery and beautiful to watch. The closing show with Pharrell, Nile Rodgers and the Northern Soul Dancers performing a medley of Get Lucky, Good Times and Happy was electric!

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International Male Solo Artist winner Bruno Mars performs ‘Treasure’ at the BRITs 2014. (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

4) The host, James Corden did a splendid job, as usual (this was his fifth time hosting the awards) – even though some people find him a little too near-the-knuckle. Events did get out of hand when Nick Grimshaw was onstage kissing James – but hey, what do you expect, this is show business?

A truly global collaboration as four time nominated Disclosure team up with New Zealand’s Lorde and AlunaGeorge to perform a special version of ‘Royals’ and ‘White Noise.’ (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

5) The best lines of the night have to go to Harry Styles, who was late onstage to accept One Direction’s win for the Global Success Award “Sorry, I was having a wee”….and to Alex Turner for saying what everyone always thinks at these award ceremonies “There’s a lot of people to thank, but they need to hear their names read out about as much as you need to hear another list.”

Ellie Goulding performed a medley of her BRIT 2014 nominated tracks, ‘I Need Your Love’ and ‘Burn’ after picking up British Female Solo Artist. (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

BRIT Awards’ Winners List
British Male Solo Artist – David Bowie
British Female Solo Artist – Ellie Goulding
British Group – Arctic Monkeys
British Breakthrough Act – Bastille
British Single – “Waiting All Night” by Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre
British Album of the Year – AM by Arctic Monkeys
Best Video (Public Vote) – “Best Song Ever” by One Direction
International Male Solo Artist – Bruno Mars
International Female Solo Artist – Lorde
International Group – Daft Punk
Global Success – One Direction
Critics’ Choice – Sam Smith
British Producer of the Year – Flood & Alan Moulder

What a great way to finish the BRITs 2014! Pharrell and Nile Rodgers perform a medley of ‘Get Lucky,’ ‘Good Times’ and ‘Happy.’ (Click here to watch in Creation 5)

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Play it. Share it. Download it.

By | Hot News

Did you know that you can download Youtube music videos and then
share them using Creation 5? Here’s how:

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1 – PLAY IT. Follow this link to watch
“Shut up & Dance!” in Creation 5
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2 – SHARE IT. Share the good vibes with your friends – press and hold
the song title and choose SHARE from the options.
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3 – DOWNLOAD IT. It’s yours for keeps when you press and hold the
song title and choose DOWNLOAD from the options.
Once downloaded you will find it in your Favourites folder.

 

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Don’t have Creation 5? Download it on the App Store!

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Top 10 biggest selling albums in UK history

By | Music

The Official Charts Company have revealed the top selling albums of all time and legendary band Queen have made Chart history. Queen’s 1981 Greatest Hits album has sold more than 6 million copies – which means that one in four British households own a copy! Queen’s original ‘best of’ collection features the classic tracks – Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust & We Will Rock You.

Queen’s guitarist Brian May said “Great news, AMAZING news from the Official Charts Company! …I just want to say thanks to everyone who has supported us through the years, we hope to continue to serve you.”

Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer also commented “Wonderful. Who would have thought it! And all due to the Great British public. Thank you. A great honour!”

I guess it proves that this album is the definitive Greatest Hits album. 33 years after it’s original release the British public are still buying it – several thousand copies per week during holiday seasons like Christmas. Digital downloads of the album are also raking up – with 124,000 downloads to date.

Queen also take the Nº10 spot with their Greatest Hits II, released in October 1991, just a month before Freddie Mercury’s tragic and untimely death.

In second place – though almost a million copies behind Queen is Gold – Abba’s Greatest Hits. In fact, it was The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band that was in second place but Abba pushed them to third place last year – probably due to the incredible success of the film and theatre productions of Mamma Mia.

The Official Top 10 selling albums of all time

1 Greatest Hits Queen 1981
2 Gold – Greatest Hits ABBA 1992
3 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Beatles 1967
4 21 Adele 2011
5 (What’s the Story) Morning Glory Oasis 1995
6 Thriller Michael Jackson 1982
7 The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd 1973
8 Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 1985
9 Bad Michael Jackson 1987
10 Greatest Hits II Queen 1991

1. Queen – Greatest Hits (Another One Bites the Dust)

2. ABBA – Gold: Greatest Hits (Take a Chance on Me)

3. Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)

4. Adele – 21 (Rolling in the Deep)

5. Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (Morning Glory)

6. Michael Jackson – Thriller (Beat It)

7. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (Money)

8. Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms (Walk of Life)

9. Michael Jackson – Bad (Bad)

10. Queen – Greatest Hits II (Kind of Magic)

To see the Official Top 40 biggest selling albums of all time, visit the Official Charts website: www.officialcharts.com

This article is brought to you by Creation 5. Download it on the App Store!

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Nine Modern Classic Soundtracks

By | Films

By Tej S. Haldule

Classics aren’t always from before your time. Some quality cinema has come out since this new millennium began, and some exceptional music has been set to it as well. Here are some soundtracks for the younger generation that could give many older greats a run for their money.

Garden State
If Zach Braff’s compilation of music to his cult sleeper hit Garden State hasn’t altered your life, it’s probably because you haven’t watched the film yet. Because this legendary tracklist stays with you, chock full of indie anthems through the decades, from Nick Drake’s heartfelt ‘One Of These Things First’ to the Shins’ most identifiable tunes. This is the soundtrack charged with launching and relaunching the careers of the likes of Thievery Corporation, Iron & Wine and Frou Frou – expect it to creep under your skin and find its way into your everyday.

The Shins – New Slang

Into The Wild
Eddie Vedder drew from a range of source material when he composed this mostly acoustic assortment of songs. A wrenching companion to the true story of a star Emory student who became disenchanted by the artificiality of modern life, the lone Vedder reaches beyond his Pearl Jam’s shadow with tracks like ‘No Ceiling’, ‘Hard Sun’ and ‘Guaranteed’ on the Into The Wild OST.
“Society – you’re a crazy breed,” he croons on the album’s instantly recognisable shiner; “hope you’re not lonely without me”. A vessel for songs to celebrate your freedom to, this is that rare soundtrack which holds its own in the face of an excellent film.

Eddie Vedder – Society)

Drive
Mention of Drive might instantly evoke images of Ryan Gosling cruising to Kavinsky’s dark, synth bleeding hit ‘Nightcall’, but on closer inspection the soundtrack’s appeal runs deeper than only one stellar song. Laced through with 80s electropop sensibilities, its handful of curated tracks run a vivid range of emotions from the shadowy (‘Tick Of The Clock’)  to the poignant (‘A Real Hero’). Not only is Cliff Martinez’s score riveting, it also lends balance to these standalone segments. It’s impossible to imagine Refn’s recent success without this elegant selection gracing its passenger seat.

(Kavinsky – Nightcall

Juno
The Moldy Peaches. Velvet Underground. Belle & Sebastian. Sonic Youth. The Kinks.
Oscar-awardee Juno introduced a great swathe of the mainstream to (mostly) independent music that deserved to be heard. Resonating with the film’s acceptance of the alternative, the queerly upbeat jangle of ‘Dearest’ or the eerie devastation in the reworking of the Carpenters’ ‘Superstar’ only made us love the quirky coming-of-age more with each passing frame.

Sonic Youth – Superstar

Life of Pi
Mychael Danna wields traditional Indian sounds just as well as A. R. Rehman does, a fact evidenced by the moving compositions on this OST. The vocals on ‘Pi’s Lullaby’ are designed to bring you back, again and again, to Ang Lee’s wonderful picture that swept awards last year. Gorgeously orchestral and grounded firmly in the reinterpretation of Eastern spirituality, the shorter pieces all meld into a seamless narrative.

Mychael Danna – Pi’s Lullaby

Midnight in Paris
A jazz musician, Woody Allen brings a professional sensitivity to the choosing of tracks for his cinema – nothing is as clear a reminder of this as his Midnight In Paris soundtrack. Although Sidney Bechet’s ‘Si Tu Vois Ma Mère’ and Dana Boule’s ‘ Parlez-moi d’amour’ are personal favourites, each track is s gem begging for an umpteenth listen. Clambering across eras, there is something for every listener here.

Sidney Bechet – Si Tu Vois Ma Mere

Snatch
Guy Ritchie’s films don’t only put together great ensemble casts – they also put together great soundtracks. Arguably his best attempt at both, his classic movie Snatch grabs at elements as disparate as Mirwais’ ‘Disco Science’ (played over the famed hare coursing sequence in the film) and the Stranglers’ whimsical ‘Golden Brown’. Together, it works like a charm.

Mirwais – Disco Science

The Proposition
It will come as a surprise to far too few that Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ collaborative effort on this affecting thriller about savagery in the Australian outback was a quiet masterpiece. Both men have done little wrong in their careers, careers to which The Proposition OST is a haunting addendum. ‘The Proposition #1’ is an understated stunner, and Cave’s vocals on ‘The Rider #2’ are unlike anything we’ve ever heard the rock legend do before. Sublime, no wonder it won at the AFI awards in ’05.

Warren Ellis and Nick Cave – The Rider #2

Donnie Darko
You may or may not have understood this infamous time-travel film, but if you watched it chances are that you’ve been touched by its ethereal soundtrack. If it isn’t the chill of ‘Killing Moon’ by Echo & the Bunnymen,  it’s the soulful hit ‘Mad World’ rendition by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews.
Andrews also scored the film, his vision belied by tracks like ‘Manipulated Living’ and ‘Waltz in the 4th Dimension’. Like Donnie Darko, expect the unexpected on this OST.

Gary Jules – Mad World

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The LEGO Movie – Everything is awesome

By | Films

The LEGO Movie is the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. It opens in theaters February 7 and is the story of a nobody who saved everybody.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller it stars Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie and Charlie Day, with Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman.

The Lego movie is 101 minutes long and you will be exhausted at the end of it! It’s an exhilarating, adventurous, action-packed comedy. The story is really fast-paced and begins in the regimented city of Bricksburg – check out the trailer.

The Characters

Emmet (Chris Pratt)
An ordinary, average LEGO mini figure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world.
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Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks)
A free spirit who loves pushing boundaries and being creative. She believes Emmet is the ‘special’ from The Prophecy who is destined to save Bricksburg – she quite fancies Emmet, despite herself and her boyfriend.
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Batman (Will Arnett)
He prefers to work alone – since he could get the job done faster and better than anyone else. He is Wyldstyle’s boyfriend.
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President Business (Will Ferrell)
An uptight CEO who has a hard time balancing world domination with managing his own life. He has a successful front business but secretly is Lord Business, the most evil of tyrants who oversees a robot militia and attempts to take over the LEGO universe.
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Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman)
An ancient mystical wizard who prohesizes that a ‘Special’ will defeat Lord Business and become the greatest LEGO Master Builder of all. He tries to teach Emmet that the key to true building is believing in yourself.
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Benny (Charlie Day)
The 1980-something spaceman suffers from lack of oxygen and a cracked helmet. His passion is spaceships but he will do anything to help his fellow LEGO Master Builders
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For more information on this brilliant movie visit the official website – there are loads of free downloads, videos and games to explore – you can even put yourself in the movie.
http://www.thelegomovie.com

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