News: Glastonbury announce Emerging Talent Competition 2011

Glastonbury Festival have just announced their Emerging Talent Competition for 2011's festival, giving new unsigned bands across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to win a slot on the main stage. The winner will be in esteemed company - previous winners include Stornoway, We Have Band, the Golden Silvers, the Subways, Ellen and the Escapades and, erm, Scouting For Girls.

At BlackPlastic we are always getting contacted by new unsigned acts - Glastonbury's competition represents a fantastic opportunity to get some exposure so if you are a music maker then we strongly recommend you enter. All styles and genres are eligible and entrance is free and surprisingly hassle free - you simply need to enter a link to where your music can be heard.  It's worth noting you only have a week to enter - the closing date is 5pm Monday 17 January 2011.

BlackPlastic has been selected along with 39 other bloggers to help judge this year's competition and you will have to excuse our blushes as we gush a bit and confess how chuffed we are to have been invited to be associated with such a prize.

You can find details on how to enter along with the full list of blogs that are judging over at the Glastonbury Festivals site... Good luck!

BP x

News: Simian Mobile Disco to launch Delicatessen with live set

BlackPlastic has a difficult time with Simian Mobile Disco - live they are a revelation, as DJs they are highly proficient and yet their albums, particularly their most recent offering (Temporary Pleasure), leave us cold.

When focused on making music for the dance floor though they have a way with acid and techno that few can consistently match, as evidenced by their early tracks ('Hustler', 'It's The Beat' and 'Sleep Deprivation') and their more recent instrumentals ('10,000 Horses Can't Be Wrong').

As such Simian Mobile Disco's forthcoming album, Delicacies, gets us a little hot under the collar, since it collects all of the tracks they have released on their own techno focused Delicacies imprint so far and puts them in one package.

To celebrate the duo will be performing a "Records & Machines" live set in a secret London warehouse on 26 November, featuring the obligatory CDJs with an 808, effects and of course some synthesizers. If you have never seen them live BlackPlastic would recommend it.

If you are up north you may be interested in the Simian Mobile Disco night in Manchester, where they will be taking over the Warehouse Project on 3 December with a frankly stupidly good line-up including Hercules & Love Affair, Tensnake, Andrew Weatherall vs Ivan Smagghe and Aeroplane.

More details on SMD's official site. Tickets for the London event are priced between £10-15 and are available from Ransom Note and Resident Advisor.

BP x

News: New Cut Copy track 'Where I'm Going' is out there...

So when Cut Copy recently alluded to the fact that they had been listening to Fleetwood Mac's Tusk a lot whilst making their new album BlackPlastic wasn't all that surprised. In fact BlackPlastic had always heard strains of Fleetwood Mac in the Copy's sophomore record In Ghost Colours.

But then we hadn't quite expected this. Cut Copy have just released the free download of 'Where I'm Going' on their site in exchange for your email address and it's a pleasant surprise. The influence of producer Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) is immediately apparent - the sound is generally more spacious, ambient and psychedelic - and the whole feel of the song is more organic, less electronic. And its bloody marvelous.

What makes Cut Copy so great is that every time they release a new record they sound like a brand new absolutely fantastic band. This track makes BlackPlastic super excited for the album.

Head over to the official Cut Copy website to download 'Where I'm Going'.

BP x

News: They're back - LCD Soundsystem return with 'Drunk Girls'

LCD's lead single from the forthcoming album has hit the interwebs and it's pretty sweet.  Not a re-defining track in the same way as 'Someone Great' or 'All My Friends' but more like a 'North American Scum' but better.

Based on the fact they are now headlining (headlining!) Barclaycard's O2 festival in London 2010 just might be theirs:

News: Seriously Social 'Dream Party' Competition update

BlackPlastic recently mentioned the Seriously Social 'Dream Party' competition where you could specify your dream party and get the chance actually throw it. We thought we'd quickly mention that the shortlist is in. Natch, our entry didn't make the cut (more fool them) but twenty five interesting concepts did.

You can head over to the Seriously Social Facebook page to check them out and voting.  Voting closes on 11 December and there are further competitions to win £500 and an HTC Hero.

BP x