The Black Ships - Chester Sessions

Twilight Singers' 'Dynamite Steps' for $5

Last year, former Verve guitarist Nick McCabe appeared on the Twilight Singers' 'Dynamite Steps' album, released February 14, 2011. It was the Twilight Singers' first album in five years, following 2006's 'Powder Burn.' McCabe lent his guitar skill to tracks on 'Dynamite Steps,' which is currently on sale for $5 in the Amazon MP3 store.

The Black Ships website officially offline

As per the band update below:

...our website is unfortunately gone... price of DIY I suppose. Anyways, the good news is that we'll come up with a new and better one in the new year... promise! We are working on the music these days, mostly from a distance, although Nick, Dav and Si have seen each other in separate musical meetings, which were very fruitful indeed. About 20 or more songs on the horizon... Will keep you posted of course, we are still figuring out what to do, it's the weirdest time in music biz ever and we have to come up with something which would be sad if it was left to itself... maybe it will be anyways, but at least it will be done properly.

The Kurofune EP, released May 2011, can still be downloaded here.

Brian Cannon interview

 As Britpop shined its bright light in the 90's and England hit a cultural Renaissance through music, film and politics, no one came to capture the moments like Brian Cannon. Cannon, who photographed iconic album covers and sleeves for The Verve, Oasis, Groove Armada, Ash, Inspirational Carpets and many others, became the man with the "eye" for Britpop. His unique style of photography was like capturing the feeling of what it is like to be enhanced by heavy drugs and a state of euphoria.

This past year, Cannon had his work displayed at the British Music Experience at the O2 in London and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Global Annual Design Awards this past November. Aside from his massive success as a music photographer, Cannon is also the owner of Microdot, a graphic design company that celebrated its 21 years in the business this past year.

We spoke with Cannon about his work and accolades, who he would still love to work with, and what he considers his favorite work. We also discussed his favorite music and seeing if there is any hope that Oasis or The Verve would ever reunite again...

Your iconic work will be featured as part of the British Music Experience at the O2, how excited and proud are you to have your work displayed?

I am honoured and flattered to have my work displayed alongside some of the all time greats, it really is a wonderful feeling to think people are interested in my creations.

Long player: Accomplished album reflects trials of Verve

It's tough being in a rock band, especially a successful one, particularly if it's an all-male line-up. You see, men don't communicate as freely and honestly as might be good for their collective health. They generally prefer just to walk the walk, drink the drink and the drop the drugs.

But the drugs don't work. Neither does sweeping your various dysfunctions under the carpet in the hope that the music will mask the effects.

In the end, that's why the Verve could only manage one shining moment before imploding, re-forming and imploding once more.

Urban Hymns (1997) was very nearly not a Verve album at all. Having split up the band following the lukewarm reception to second album A Northern Soul (1995), vocalist Richard Ashcroft freed himself of the simmering tension with guitarist Nick McCabe and had begun work on a new project with bassist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury.

But he soon called McCabe back into the fold to work alongside new guitarist Simon Tong, unable to deny his addiction to the elements of the band's music that had convinced him something great was possible.

Lead single Bitter Sweet Symphony went gangbusters, reaching second spot on the UK singles chart and No 12 in the US. Follow-up The Drugs Don't Work went one better in the UK, providing the Verve with its sole career chart-topper and launched the band into a hectic schedule of US and European tours. One broken hand and bruised jaw later, Ashcroft and McCabe had once more parted company.

On-again off-again reunions have followed but the band is effectively dead.

What remains is an album that speaks more eloquently of all manner of personal trials and triumphs than anything else Ashcroft has produced.

From mesmeric psychedelic excursions to luscious, string-heavy ballads to hard-out rockers, Urban Hymns remains one of the most accomplished Britrock albums.

• Source: Jeff Harford, Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

Xfm 10th Birthday Podcasts

In 2007, to celebrate their 10th birthday, Xfm produced a season of ten podcasts highlighting ten of the most influential and significant albums released in each of Xfm's ten years of broadcasting since its launch in 1997. 

Each show takes listeners through the making of a classic album through the eyes of the band, producers and key figures in each record's history. Among them was The Verve's Urban Hymns. Tune in on iTunes.

• Kudos: Ross

Win a day in the studio with Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury

Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury and Jeff Wootton (Guitar, Beady Eye, Gorillaz) are volunteering their time to benefit the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK.

The winner will spend a day in a recording studio with the musicians, record a track of their own, jam with the band, or if not a musician, simply hang out for the day and watch/see them record. The winner will come away with a CD of the recording/DVD film of the days events.

A recording studio, producer and engineer have been booked for Friday, October 21 from 10-6 PM at Milltown Studios, New Mills, Derbyshire.

Proceeds will benefit the Emma Hoolin Appeal. Check out the Ebay auction (ending in 6 days) here.