When Roger Waters embarked on his Dark Side of the Moon tour back in 2006, a new era in album tributes was born. Those who attended the Dark Side concerts remember a startling visual accompaniment to Waters’ awesome band and their massive sound. Now, in 2012, tickets to Roger Waters The Wall tour are selling out fast as Floyd fans and others clamor to be amazed all over again. The Wall tour revives the iconic 1979 Pink Floyd album of the same name. It is the fragmented history of a rock star named Pink.

Pink suffers from a mixture of psychosis and post-traumtic shock. He struggles to deal with life in the shadow of loneliness by adopting wild and detached behavior. The death of his father during World War II drives the story forward into a crazed materialistic trip littered with dark poetry and violence. The Wall’s most powerful image remains the marching hammers that steamroll their way across a broken landscape like Nazi stormtroopers. Expect to encounter these visions when you see Roger Waters live in concert. The drama of the tale, coupled to some of the best songs of the last thirty years, will once again take audiences deep on an intense voyage that transcends music and creativity; Roger Waters’ own personal history bears many parallels to that of Pink, and this provides a rich fuel for an epic modern journey.

Pink Floyd began life as a spark between Waters and Nick Mason when they met at college in London. Several small mutations later – including the acquisition of one Syd Barrett – Floyd were the resident band at a Kensington all-night club. Their meteoric rise to the leading edge of the British psychedelic movement happened naturally; audiences loved Barrett for his onstage exuberance and over-indulgent flights of fancy. The association with LSD and an artsy, progressive scene was no accident. Led by Barrett, Floyd were ahead of the curve, and their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was packed with images of gnomes, bicycles, fairy stories, witches’ cats and military code.

Floyd went from strength to strength, losing Barrett along the way to mental illness and replacing him with David Gilmour. In time Roger Waters emerged as the true voice of Pink Floyd. It’s fitting that it is Waters who has managed the most impactful concert tours in the years since Floyd disbanded, with Dark Side of the Moon and now The Wall being the crowning glories. Roger Waters tickets are high price tickets, chiefly because they give the audience a full-blown experience rather than just a concert. The recent news that David Gilmour tickets are also on sale for his upcoming tour is an indicator that Pink Floyd may yet reassemble and blow our minds again. But it’s probably just a silly dream. Then again, isn’t all of life just a silly dream?

Inni, the next instalment to Sigur Rós’ now lengthy discography is finally here. It’s the band’s first truly live album and the second live film after Heima (2007), and is quite simply amazing. Inni, which literally translates from icelandic to english as “inside”, is thought of as the opposite of Heima by the band.

Whereas Heima was all about Sigur Rós themselves in their homeland of Iceland, Inni aimed for a raw approach showing nothing but the band performing and trying to give the viewer the experience of actually being there. They even performed as just a four man band without the accompanying string and brass instruments we grew familiar with on Heima.

The stripped down feel of Inni extends to the monochrome aspect of the footage which quite extraordinarily was first filmed in HD digital, then converted to 16mm film and then re-filmed from a projection through various mediums such as glass.

An incredible amount of work has gone into the post-production of this album which is the main reason I had shivers, technically known as frissons, for half an hour straight while first listening to it. Whether you obtain this album legally through the Sigur Rós website or illegally, make sure it’s at 320kbps. (your ears will thank you for making such a noble decision)

Some bands seem to release live albums as filler between their studio albums but this is anything but. Inni is possibly the best Sigur Rós album yet in terms of sound quality and balance which is so perfect that despite keeping it’s intensity, often doesn’t feel like a live album at all and the audience applause, which is usually annoying in a lot of live recordings, is restricted to just between tracks and isn’t at a deafening volume.

The album features songs from all 5 of Sigur Rós’ studio albums and closes on Lúppulagið which unfortunately is the only song not to appear on any of their previous works. The song selection for Inni seems to show the heavier side of their music and despite including the mandatory Hoppípolla, has a darker and often trance like atmosphere reminiscent of the second half of ( ).

Inni was released worldwide on November the 8th 2011 and in the USA on November 15th.

CD 1    1. Svefn-g-englar  2. Glósóli  3. Ný batterí  4. Fljótavík  5. Við spilum endalaust  6. Hoppípolla  7. Með blóðnasir  8. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur  9. E-Bow

CD 2    1. Sæglópur  2. Festival  3. Hafsól  4. All Alright  5. Popplagið  6. Lúppulagið

With spring just around the corner (optimistic?!) everyone will be starting to enjoy the lighter evenings and warmer days. So to match everybody’s brighter moods how about some great new music to have a little listen to? We’ve got web editor Callie Morris to recommend her top 5 live acts you should all go and see this year…

Fixers

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This five piece from Oxford seems to have the ‘psychadelic indie’ genre pinned. Having only got together for a one off show last year they decided to stick it out, stay together and see what else they can get up to. Pretty smart move as they are now set for big things, frequently attracting the interest of various music and media professionals.

If you like nice harmonies (who doesn’t!?) then this band will be right up your street, although everyone else will still enjoy their foot tappingly cheerful music.

Spark

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Everyone will soon know about Spark. Already a favourite with acts such as Marina and the Diamonds and Diana Vickers she is bursting onto the music scene in a blaze of poppy electro. The awesome East London singer/songwriter will be releasing her debut album this year… As one YouTube commenter said: “2011 will belong to this girl”.

The Go! Team

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Having been around since 2000 The Go! Team aren’t actually a new band, but I feel they deserve a little place on my list purely because if you haven’t already seen them (and even if you have) then 2011 is the year to do this – their energy on stage is infectious and you’ll definitely be glad you were a part of it. Check out the live video above for an example of the talent involved in this six piece from Brighton.

They draw a lot of influence from Sonic Youth, playground chants and old school hip hop and electro creating a surprisingly good combination.

Death Cab For Cutie

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Death Cab For Cutie are another band that are in no way new, however their latest album Codes and Keys will be released this year so they can have a little spot on my list as ones to definitely go and see in 2011 – due to the simple fact that they’re awesome. From the bass line in ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ to Ben Gibbardís voice in – well any song, they are definitely not to be missed.

Their last album Narrow Stairs was released in 2008 and reached number 1 on the Billboard 200. Lets see if they can match this success with their imminent next one…

Niki And The Dove

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Swedish group Niki and the Dove will have you enchanted with their musical offerings and definitely leave you wanting more. Topping many of the rising stars for 2011 lists it’s worth jumping on this bandwagon before everyone else does too!

Fronted by Marin Dahlström who has a voice that is able to make electro-pop sound emotional and enchanting, check out singles ‘DJ, Ease My Mind’ and ‘Under the Bridges’, then get yourself a Niki And The Dove gig ticket!

Keep an eye on their Myspace page for upcoming gig information and general band news.

I chanced upon Rapskallion this morning in one of Melbourne’s laneways and I was drawn in instantly. They gave a five person performance of mandolin, melodica, megaphone; double bass, violin and accordion times two as well as a whimsical array of percussive utensils and surfaces; the seemingly preferred of which being the face of Harry Connick Jr on nearby posters that littered their cave.

A modern take on the Parisian-Gypsy sound of the early 20th century, they sing tales of Brunswick (the bohemian enclave of Melbourne’s suburbs) with the improvised charm of a true street performance and enough character to fill a Dickens novel.

Never Turn Your Back On Tha Sea – Rapskallion

I made a purchase of their album ‘One Up For The Little Man’, an enthralling 11 track piece. You can visit their myspace here or get the album from iTunes.

One thing I can say for definite is that the busking in Melbourne is better. The lighting and acoustics of the London Underground don’t do anyone any justice.

By Charlie O’Shea