Every Chinese New Year since 2006, F**ked Up have released a 12″ single inspired by the beasts of the Chinese Zodiac, the latest of these singles being Year Of The Tiger, out on February 6th. Ahead of next weeks release we’re sharing the four existing Zodiac singles via a widget on the Matablog, and will be adding Year Of The Tiger upon its release.

Clocking in between 10 and 20 minutes apiece, Fucked Up‘s Zodiac singles contain some of their most ambitious work, along with numerous and surprising guest musicians, ranging from Zola Jesus and a Toronto string quartet on Year Of The Ox to Jim Jarmusch and Austra’s Katie Stelmanis on Year of the Tiger.

With his Leicester Square Theatre show having sold-out in less than 24 hours, there’s plenty of excitement building around the release of M Ward’s new album, ‘A Wasteland Companion’, in early April on Bella Union records. Ahead of the release M Ward has just unveiled the video to ‘The First Time I Ran Away‘, one of the album’s many stunning tracks. Directed by Joel Trussell this haunting animated work brilliantly captures the beauty of the song. Click on the link below to check it out, and feel free to share or repost.

Upcoming UK live dates below:

March: 20th – London – Leicester Square Theatre (Sold out!), 25th – London – Royal Albert Hall (with Feist), 26th – Manchester – Apollo (with Feist), 27th – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (with Feist).

David’s Lyre have announced the release of their debut album ‘Picture Of Our Youth’ on a pay-what you-want basis exclusively from Bandcamp. The album will be available from February 20th and will be the only offering from singer/writer/producer Paul Dixon’s latest project. Working with the critically acclaimed ‘In Arms’ EP producer, Luke Smith (Foals, Slow Club), as well as calling upon the up and coming Tom Fuller (Patrick Wolf), Dixon co-produced throughout. Mixed by Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, These New Puritans), ‘Picture Of Our Youth’ was recorded over a 12 month period in London.

In a statement to fans posted on Friday, Paul wrote: “David’s Lyre began a little over 2 years ago. I signed a record deal with a Major label 6 months after starting the project, and this relationship ended just before Christmas 2011. When we first signed we had hoped that the album would be out Summer 2011 but for various reasons, as you know, this didn’t happen.”

Back in November Alpines revealed the first in a series of collaborative tracks, along with Maya Jane Coles the band took on Carly Simon’s classic ‘Why‘. We now have the second track available, an original production working  alongside Dark Sky for the track ‘Tremors‘.

Listen to Alpines + Dark Sky – ‘Tremors’:

The UK’s most diverse and creatively delivered electronic music event, Glade returns with a bang in 2012. Having endured several well documented venue changes in 2011, the owners of Houghton Hall in Norfolk were so blown away by last year’s event they have thrown open their land and welcomed the festival back. This year Glade will be a much bigger and better event, set to take place over four beautiful days in spectacular English countryside.  With an incredible site and a stellar lineup, consisting of hundreds of DJs and live acts from around the globe, Glade 2012 is set to become the must-go-to festival for all lovers of underground electronic music.

Featuring the best electronic talent around, the cross-genre Glade Stage is headlined by German techno-legend Sven Vath. Having enjoyed a hugely successful worldwide career spanning over 30 years, Sven is one of the founders of German techno and a driving force behind electronic dance music with his infamous Cocoon label, parties and nightclub.  Famous for his marathon club-sets at Berlin’s notorious Dorian Grey to weekly parties in Ibiza to a non-stop global tour schedule, we are very pleased to welcome Sven to Glade.

Joint headlining is Drum & Bass hero Andy C who presents his jaw-dropping Alive stage show. Having spear-headed the scene since the early 90’s, Andy and his Ram Records label have been at the forefront of this UK dance explosion. His Alive show will see a unique audio / visual extravaganza closing the festival on Sunday. Joining these two prolific artists and rounding off our headliners is French techno don Vitalic, a man who has been decimating dance floors across the globe since the late 90s with his unique brand of electronic funk on labels such as International DJ Gigalo and PIAS.

Elsewhere on the line up we see a quality mixture of proper electronic music taking in the progressive from the sublime Robert Babicz, techno from German scene-leaders Marc Romboy and Extrawelt. Drum n Bass is represented by UK duo Drumsound and Bassline Smith whilst Rusko brings the Dubstep and Radio 1 DJ and Sheffield’s pin up Toddla T (above) joins Don Letts for a dub, reggae and beyond set on Sunday. Listen to Todda T’s collaboration with Roots Manuva last year:

The Glade Stage also represents live music with US sensation Pretty Lights performing alongside festival stalwarts The Dub Pistols and British hip-hop, grime and dubstep super group Foreign Beggars. Listen to Foreign Beggars track ‘Slime Sword’ below:

With plenty more talent performing and another exclusive headliner yet to be announced, expect nothing but the best, whatever the genre – all weekend.

Ticket Info:

• Weekend Tickets: £135 + BF
• Camper Van Passes: £50
• Deposit Scheme Tickets: £50 + BF

Tickets available from: http://www2.seetickets.com/gladefestival/price.asp?code=570563&filler1=id1gladefestival&filler2=multiid1gladefestival&filler3=

German legends, and pioneers of the Digital Hardcore sound, Atari Teenage Riot will be playing their first UK show of 2012 at a special Energy Sessions hosted by Artrocker, at The Garage, sponsored by Relentless Energy Drink on February 29^th 2012.

The band’s ferocious mix of hardcore punk, pounding techno and hip-hop made them alternative legends in the nineties and since their reunion in 2009 they have continued to rage against the machine. 2011 saw the release of ‘Is This Hyperreal?’ the band’s first full album of new material in twelve years, and a true return to form as the band laid waste to the world on an acclaimed international tour. Expect a night of righteous noise and some of the most passionate music around. The band plough through their 20 year back catalogue to create an intense audio experience that is not to be missed.

To celebrate the release of their debut album ‘Illuminated People’ last week, Islet are delighted to announce their first live tour for 2012, bringing their incredible live show across the UK throughout May and June

Live they already have a burgeoning reputation. Spending the summer of 2011 playing festivals including Primavera, Leeds & Reading and Bestival, they beguiled onlookers with ritualistic chants, sometimes delivered away from the song being played on stage; at other times they were seen meandering off into the crowd. In person as in music, they seek to break down walls.

Tour dates:

May: 25 // Liverpool, Kazimier, 26 // Glasgow, Captains Rest, 27 // Newcastle, Cluny 2, 28 // Leeds, Brudenell Social Club, 29 // Sheffield, The Harley, 30 // London, Cargo, 31 // Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach.

JUNE //

1 // BIRMINGHAM, Rainbow

Craig Finn, front man of the critically acclaimed The Hold Steady, has confirmed the release of his debut solo album, ‘Clear Heart Full Eyes’ on Full Time Hobby Records.

Earlier this year, Finn challenged himself to write a new song every day in his Brooklyn apartment. “I had written a bunch of songs that were outside of the norm for The Hold Steady, a little quieter and perhaps more narrative,” says Finn. “I wanted to gain some experience and insight into the process of making a record by working with new people”.

In July Finn travelled to Austin, Texas, removing himself from all familiar surroundings, to record the album with producer Mike McCarthy of Spoon and Trail of Dead fame. Of the album’s title, Finn says: “It’s a juxtaposed reference to Friday Night Lights, a TV show that excited and moved me and also happened in Texas. Furthermore, Clear Heart signifies honesty and transparency, and Full Eyes suggests experience”.

Craig Finn tours the UK with The Felice Brothers as follows:

March: 13 – London, Macbeth, 14 – Birmingham, Institute, 15 – Dublin, Academy, 16 – Belfast, Spring & Airbrake, 17 – Glasgow, ABC, 18  – Manchester, Academy 2, 20 – London, Koko

Followed by a couple of Headline shows:

March: 28 – BRIGHTON, Coalition, 29 – London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen.

Deer Tick is proud to announce the UK release of their new album ‘Divine Providence’, available on April 2^nd via Loose Music.

‘Divine Providence’ is the Rhode Island quintet’s fourth album in just five years, and is the first release recorded in their home state. It’s a follow-up to their fantastic ‘Black Dirt Sessions’, which New York magazine called “flat-out great,” and inspired the Late Show with David Letterman to give the band its network television debut.

After years of critics mainly praising them for their “folk” and “country” sounds and not touching on their other musical styles, the band wanted to make a record that was true to their live set (which has gained some notoriety): raw, loud, heartfelt, and completely uninterested in whatever the hell the rest of the music industry is up to. The results are unlike anything you’ve heard on a Deer Tick album.

The band will be embarking on a European Tour throughout March with a London date confirmed for The Garage on April 4^th.