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Casting a critical eye on digital media, new music & technology
Gil Scott-Heron
On 8th /9th February 2010, Gil Scott-Heron released his new album I'm New Here on groundbreaking independent label XL Recordings. Produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, Im New Here is Scott-Heron’s first album in thirteen years.
Craig charles spoke to his all-time hero Gil Scott-Heron on Saturday in the run up to his new album The return of one of hip hop's early pioneers marks an exciting chapter for fans of soul and black music in general. Here's what Wikipaedia had to say:
'Gil Scott-Heron is an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1970s and early 1980s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron.
The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".'
Samsung Showcases Transparent Display Notebook at CES 2010
If you're like me and you enjoy reading about exciting developments in display technology, you may have heard of CES 2010. Every year at the Consumer Electronics Show the big manufacturers like Sony, Samsung and Panasonic showcase new concepts and devices they're working on bringing to market.
In January 2010 Samsung showcased a prototype of a new, transparent Organic LED or OLED display on a notebook at CES 2010. The display used in the prototype notebook is a 14'' inch transparent OLED display, and when the screen is turned off, the display is up to 40% transparent. One of the great advantages of OLEDs is they don't require a backlight to function thus saving energy and resulting in longer battery life.
Samsung annouced plans to use the display technology in future products like MP3 players and ad displays but it could be used in just about any hand-held device. When this display technology is perfected we'll no doubt see it being rolled out as a replacement for LCD TVs.
YouTube has a nice video post of this in action:
As I wrote this I noticed Wikipaedia had some interesting specs on the world's first OLED TV dubbed the XEL-1 produced by Sony. Currently going for a whopping $2,499.99 retail price.
Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show
Craig Charles returns to the BandontheWall club in Manchester on the 5th March to play more tracks from his Funk & Soul Show that goes out on Saturdays on BBC 6 music.
In his deubt at the Leeds club Craig Charles dropped Voodoo People at Bandonthewall, performed by funk band 6ix Toys for BBC Maida Vale last year. It was a great night and a hassle free zone, with speedy service at the bar.
No long queues either which is rare for anyone used to packed Dance and 80s nostalgia clubs.
On last week's show Craig played an exclusive track by The Underbelly feat Roxie Ray — I Keep Heading On. Previously unsigned until very recently, expect great things from this band. What a belter indeed! They will be in session from the beginning of April so look out for them very soon!
Skint play Roman Bath on Thu 11th Feb
York indie band Skint play Roman Bath on the 11th Feb, the 2nd of two warm-up gigs since the new year. Situated in the heart of York's Parliament Square and rapidly becoming a corner stone in York's alternative scene, Roman Bath has hosted several indie nights last year to receptive locals and students alike.
