gang of four, new album
Gang of Four live at Fuji Rock, Japan. 40,000 kids can’t be wrong - death to the CD!
So November 7th I leave for London - arrive Nov 8th, frantic rehearsals and then leave the 9th for Istanbul, Turkey where we play on the 10th, our first show since May when we played Bergen, Norway and the Donhau Festival in Austria. After Turkey we return to London to add more musical ideas to the pot for a new ‘album’ to be ‘released’ in 08. Accordingly I have started a new category in the blog called ‘New Gang of Four album’ - by clicking on that category interested parties can follow my ruminations on what exactly a Gang of Four recording means in 2007….
And what does that mean? Well regular readers of this blog will know that I have nothing but disdain for the CD. That format is essentially over, the irony there being that the CD was introduced in the 80’s as the ultimate delivery system of music for generations to come; unfortunately for some, we have learned that ones and zeros have a habit of being very mobile when packaged correctly for delivery. So for me, [as in the others may not agree] no new G4 music on CD. 180 gramme vinyl with accompanying MP3s yes, ditto T-shirt, some kind of exclusive access. How about via a mobile phone company? Or only available via the Gang of Four web site? The best thing though - no record label….to be continued. Meanwhile I’m switching out the Gang of Four html web site to a blog so that folks can comment, send rude notes and generally dick around on it…..stay tuned.
Update - Chris Anderson at the Long Tail blog has posted an article that sort of supports my feelings about the CD - Everything in the music industry is up - except those plastic discs
October 27th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [...]
October 27th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Sweet Jesus!
October 27th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
You dropped a bomb on me, baby!
October 27th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
just make sure any go4 widgets are up to par, you know how critical joshk can be.
October 28th, 2007 at 7:30 am
I’d settle for “no label” and consent to the CD, among other formats. CDs are harmless if they are just one format among many. There’s consensus on “no label”?
October 28th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Paul, yes certainly there’s consensus on the ‘no label’ angle, that’s easy. I’m sure there will be a CD although I want to see the end of them. My thinking is based around trying to change people’s habits by not making things too easy by supplying a CD. For instance in the USA almost every TV viewer has cable TV so they have an expanded choice of programs far beyond network TV. Add a Tivo or DVR to the mix and now the viewer has escaped the tyranny of scheduling provided by the programmers. SImilarly, if we provide MP3s plus unreleased material, out takes and remixes etc, provide cool artwork also then G4 fans can make their own CD even their own artwork.
October 28th, 2007 at 11:19 am
By the way, here’s some info from Chris Anderson’s Long Tail blog about the state of the music industry = Everything in the music industry is up - except those plastic discs
October 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Outside the trains don’t run on time!
October 28th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Dave, congrats and hooray for a new Go4 release! Always a welcome thing.
You can never, EVER understand how much pleasure it gave me to wear an Air Force uniform back in the 90s, with a near-daily chorus of voices chanting “Armalite Rifle….” and other similarly military themed gems blaring from my little cubicle back when I worked at AF News Agency in San Antonio, TX. (I only mention that in case the other Gang of Four fan in the office back then might be reading).
Suffice it to say, many didn’t QUITE surrender to the delicious irony. I’ love to know whatever happened to the other guy in the office from back in the day though…Scotty, if you are lurking here, say hello.
J.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I look forward to your ruminations. Wondering one thing…are your thoughts of no CD catered to your band and its appreciators in particular? Or music in general? I ask because what of music fans who are not terribly web savvy or can’t afford keeping up on the latest and greatest computers and MP3 players? Are there differences based on genre of music?
October 28th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
ka boom.
to go beyond the mp3 and vinyl combo…..it could be interesting to find artists to create online animations for each track.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:46 am
I must have missed the memo that fired me!
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Congrats on the new “album”.
Regarding formats, Wired ezine has a similar commentary with “Vinyl May Be Final Nail in CD’s Coffin”
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:06 am
Does the above posting by Hugo B indicate that Gof4 are once again in downsizing mode? Gang of Three? Two? One?
November 3rd, 2007 at 7:33 am
Gang of 1 has a nice ring to it…
November 4th, 2007 at 3:36 am
One of the troubles with blogs – lots of postings but concrete information remains scarce.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Jim, I take offense at that statement. This blog is run by me and me alone and everything I post here is as open and straightforward as can be. You may have trouble with other blogs or you may just be a person that tries to belittle people like me who run highly-trafficked blogs, I’m not sure what you’re agenda is. You refer to the comment by Hugo B. As Hugo B is presumed by you to be Hugo Burnham and said Hugo B has publicly stated a position here it’s surely up to you and the said Hugo B to come to terms with how much more info I should give you about Hugo B. All I ask of you is - are you a G4 fan or a journalist or maybe both? What exactly are you fishing for? And would you like Hugo Burnham’s email address so that you two can share email, and then you can return with information for us all and we can have a public discussion here? As for Gang of Four downsizing the answer is no, we are still a four-piece.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:49 am
[...] Related posts: MusicTech 07, New Gang of Four album, The Future of Music Share this Post: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
November 4th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
[...] Related Post: Gang of Four New Album Share this Post: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
November 6th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Ease up, Starsky! Dave, by all means give Jim Dooley my e-mail address….no problem.
In the interest of that public discussion (and if anyone else is interested) - sadly, I am not being included in future G4 works. It’s complicated, of course, involving management and money issues - but I am not a willing ‘non-participant’. My post above was meant to be humorous/teasing. Dave and I have been friends for many years…unlike his relationship with JK and AG…and recent months of avoidance and non-communication have been a shame. But spats pass…
As far as I am concerned, I am G4’s ‘real’ drummer, and while they plough forward with writing and recording new material with a session guy - which I wish them luck with and hope they enjoy - I would expect to be involved with any ATP/Don’t Look Back-type events…being the right and honest thing to do.
Regards,
Hugo Burnham
November 26th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I am just grateful that this blog / site exists and Dave is kind enough to share the info, special tracks and keeps us up to date on anything regarding GO4. Bring on ‘08!
November 27th, 2007 at 11:02 am
@Hugo
Hugo,
I’m quite distressed to hear that, to me this hoped for period with the original four was all too brief. Of course I’m excited for new material but that news takes the luster off a good bit. I only wish that I will be able to see you with them again live at some point.
John
November 27th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Obviously something is going on behind the scenes regarding the G04 line up. All I can say without facts is hope things work out for you all. The classic line up will always be Allen, Burnham, Gill, King although I loved Sara’s era as well.
C’mon Dave, even I can play Uniform!
And I found All Lined Up on youtube the other day. Good to hear it again.