Dance News

Gnarls Barkley have released their new album, 'The Odd Couple', a couple of weeks early. Originally due out on April 8, Gnarls Barkley's sophomore album hit the streets (and the digital music market) three weeks before its intended release date. The album has already leaked online, although that has not been listed as an official reason for it being pushed up. "They felt the timing was right to just go for it," reads a post on Gnarls Barkley's Web site. "With the shifting seasons, furtive romantic entanglements and fierce college basketball rivalries, the latter half of March can be confusing. People need to be soothed and inspired now." Some touring will also happen, but Cee-Lo Green, one half of Gnarls Barkley, has already told Billboard.com he's not too into the idea of a full tour. "Believe it or not, I still can't afford to take my entire family on the road with me," he says.

The fast-tracking of their album is not the first unexpected change of plans for the dynamic duo in recent weeks. Last month the video for Gnarls Barkley's most recent single Run was banned in the UK, over concerns that it could cause seizures in viewers suffering from epilepsy. The spasm-inducing visuals occur in a sequence where Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse appear on a psychedelic '60s-style game show hosted by Justin Timberlake. While the Poms get a re-edited version of Run, every other country will screen the epilepsy-unfriendly original. Watch at your peril!

N.E.R.D's long awaited new album, 'Seeing Sounds', was named after the group watched a documentary on the Discovery Channel about synesthesia. Speaking to MTV, Pharrell Williams said that they were inspired by the notion that you could 'see sounds'. "The most inspiration is probably deep inside a synesthesiac," he said. "It's a mixture of senses that may cause a person to experience colorful hearing, auditory smell," N.E.R.D's Shay added. "For example, you might see something, and it might trigger a song. You might hear something, and it might trigger a taste in your mouth. When we created this album, it was the music we envisioned while creating it. We decided it would be the appropriate title for the album. Bandmate, Chad Hugo, says the album is definitely not club music, but it is European-influenced, adding that "it's a big album of LSD, sonic drug," Starting in mid-April, the N.E.R.D. crew will join Kanye West on the 'Glow in the Dark Tour'. While their single, Everyone Nose (a song about cocaine), will be released soon, you'll have to wait until June for 'Seeing Sounds'.

50 Cent and his G-Unit crew will be heading out on a brief tour of Australia and New Zealand later this month. During their tour, Fiddy will perform and be a guest presenter at this year's Australian MTV Awards, to be held in Sydney on April 26. Other nominations include Sneaky Sound System for Australian Artist, Scribe for New Zealand artist and Lupe Fiasco performing Snow Jam for the MTV Live Performance Award. 50 Cent last visited Australia in 2006. 50 Cent and G-Unit recently released a free mixtape titled 'Elephant In The Sand', the second volume in the Unit's new Thisis50.com series, which pokes fun at the title of Fat Joe's latest album, 'Elephant In The Room'. In related news, DJ Drama recently revealed to that himself and 50 Cent plan on releasing the very first G-Unit edition of his 'Gangsta Grillz' mixtape series this month. According to Drama, the G-Unit boss reached out a couple of weeks ago after he dropped the previously mentioned 'Elephant In The Sand' mixtape. Fans can look forward to appearances from all of the G-Unit MC's, plus La Da Darkman and Willie Da Kid of Drama's Aphilliates label.

Two-time Grammy-nominated Chicago electro pioneer, Felix Da Housecat, will mix the first 2008 installment in the Global Underground series, to be released on the 12 May. The 2-disc release will focus on the world's fashion epicenter, Milan, and features tracks from the likes of Josh Wink, Dubfire, Chip E and Boys Noize among others. In other upcoming release news, the 14th of April sees the release of the final installment in the first 'Transitions' series, mixed by John Digweed. The 73 minute running time condenses 22 records into 10 tracks, ensuring this outing is as intricately programmed as ever. "In 'trackmarking' this way I am able to highlight the unique qualities of the mix," writes Digweed on his website.

Following the critical acclaim of their latest album 'More' in late 2007, Brisbane hip-hop outfit the Resin Dogs, are hitting the road for a 28-date national tour. With a full live show incorporating keys, guitar, drums and bass, the Dogs will be joined by N'FA and DNO MC on the mic, with DJ Katch manning the ones and twos. Supporting the Resin Dogs on tour will be Australian DMC legend Dexter, who will be blessing the stage with his masterful DJ wizardry and getting the crowd hyped and DJ Vadim's live MC BluRum 13, who plays a select number of shows. The Resin Dogs can be seen live in Adelaide on Light Square (formerly Night Train) on Saturday the 24th of May. Also check out progressive house purveyor, Paolo Mojo, on Friday the 25th of July at Cargo Club and World DMC Champion, DJ, Klever, on Saturday April 19th at Electric Circus.


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Email Terry Goldfain

gold@chariot.net.au