INNER MUSIC EST 2011

 Erasure – The Neon Editor Katie Watkins - 29/8/20 Electronic Music’s duo Erasure are back with stunning new album NEON, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke  embark on their 18th Studio album release this week.  The Neon descends upon us at a time where the mood is upbeat for Erasure in a week where synth pioneer Vince Clarke won the Special Recognition Award at this weeks Association of Independent Music online Awards and was duly presented with this by his partner in crime the flamboyant Andy Bell.   The album was recorded in Brooklyn, New York, Atlanta Georgia and mixed in London, The Neon was as Bell states ‘about refreshing my love for music – hopefully, our love – of great pop’ If the lead single ‘Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)’ is anything to go by both Andy and Vince have taken the pop bull by the horns with its strong catchy bassline and instantly recognisable Vince Clarke riff and set the tone of this album in exciting fashion.  By no means the strongest ...

 UB40 'betrayal' and upset: The sad split that tore one of Birmingham's biggest bands apart Editor Katie Watkin's  17/9/20 UB40's Ali Campbell has claimed his former bandmates 'betrayed' him and says there is no chance of the reggae group ever reforming.   The singer,  now 61, left the band in 2008 after a dispute with management and now performs under the name UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro.    Ali was replaced by his brother Duncan, 62, and the pair have not spoken for years, despite the new frontman suffering a stroke earlier this month. Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Monday, Ali was asked by host Adil Ray if there was any chance of the band reforming. He replied: 'Those days are well done. Astro and I, we tour around the world, we're very successful.  Robin and Ali Campbell turned themselves from 1970s' unemployed hopefuls into chart-topping global stars with careers that have now lasted for more than 40 years.   But thei...