Hey, I got Billy's new album (amazon downloads) i dowloaded it this morning, its called 'Refine' and is dammm goood!!!

Tracks;

Soliloquy
Exremism
Supporting the sky with both hands
Empty stange mantra
Beyond our own skin
People came and laughed
Martyr points
Bend the bow
Love signs and triangles

Link to amazon downloads, £4.99 too

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Refine/dp/B002MT...9714&sr=1-6

...oops i missed a track off, Bit me!

'Cycle there' bieng the one i missed

Tracks;

Soliloquy
Exremism
Supporting the sky with both hands
Empty stange mantra
Beyond our own skin
People came and laughed
Martyr points
Bend the bow
Love signs and triangles
Cycle there

Billy hasn't updated his website yet. After hearing of the shenanighans the record company of one of my other favourite artists has been up to, perhaps he can be enticed to let us know where he'd prefer us to buy it.

When purchasing the new album, whether it be physical hard copy or download, surely the decision of purchase outlet is the buyers perogative - not the artists. Bilio might come on here and prompt us to buy from www.joebloggs/whatever.com
at a price of £49.99 - know what I mean, Mrs

I just emailed him to push him in the right direction!!

Valid point Pig!

Not if none of that was going to him! Here's the record company shenanighans to which I was referring .

Now, if Billy's got a label, then it might be better for him if I can buy direct from him, so he gets both royalty and the vendor's cut. Or he might be self-publishing, so to speak, in which case it's definitely better to buy direct, or via some vendor which hasn't demanded as big a discount as the likes of Amazon do.

GOOD GOD!!! Christmas has arrived early!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anybody finds this album on cd, please let me know as i cannot download on my phone
Regards Scott

Hi Scott,

Sorry - Billy stated in his May 2009 posting on his website that his new album would be download only, so it's unlikely they'll be a CD release of this.

Regards,


Paul

I think there's a couple of issues here. For the conspiracy theorists in the world, it's always good to paint record companies as bad guys in all ways. That's completely dependent on your point of view, although I'd maintain not so - sadly, depite this assertion from many, life is never so black and white.

Now, I've never heard of 'Amanda F***ing Paalmer' (as her blog represents her), and to be truthful, I neither have the time or will to go through her complete blog to see how she ended up in her situation. Although I can sympathise that she feels she is being given a very raw deal by her label, let's not be naive here; it is both hers and her labels interest to exploit her catalogue as much as they can. I have to assume that how sales (and payments due in all royalty respects) of her work through iTunes or Amazon were discussed and agreed by her at the time she put pen to paper and signed that record deal - if the record company has gone against that contract agreement, then she has grounds legally to get them to pay up what she is due. But saying that, it is also in an artists interest to cover every aspect and protect their work however they have to. If the contract a person has signed with a label allowing work to be distributed has not specifically take into account royalites she would be entitled to from outlets like iTunes, then maybe next time they should hire a sharper lawyer (or whoever they engage with to represent them in contract negotiations) to make sure a costly mistake like that happens one time only. There is always devil and detail, and the lesson to be learned should be once bitten, twice shy.

I do not think this happens across the board with musicians. If this was the case, artists would refuse to let their music be distributed throigh those outlets. With iTunes, the case in point is The Beatles, whose work still does not appear there despite years of negotation. Presumably the way it is proposed to be distributed and handled by EMI and iTunes is not quite how they want their work to be represented, so negotations continue.

Billy does not have a record company at the moment, and mentioned in May that he went his separate ways from Voiceprint at the end of last year. But he does say on his music page that his work is available through 'iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MPS, etc'. On that basis, I think you have to presume that he's covered his payment issues satisfactorily and that he's happy to have his work accessed and purchased by people through these outlets.

I'm looking forward to hearing the album. Sounds like it's going to be cracking!

All the best,


Paul

Guys, with all due respect to all... alli want is the music, i would like a physical copy, but given that i couldn't get any of them anywhere... amazon had come me rescue, well apart from the 'pieces of the puzzle' and the humania albuim which i would love to hear.

No complaints, i love the new album... dam good!

Thanks for the heads up. iTunes has it too but only the US store - not the UK one! Can't find it anywhere else. The Amazon downloader's a real pain to use and doesn't download the album art.

Although the same was said about Sinews Of the Soul. Still annoyed about having to buy that twice.

I have to say - Soliloquy is an absolute MASTERPIECE!! I LOVE this track!!

I think this album has to be his best to date..... I am real excited by it... its the kind of stuff that really does make one wonder what a new Ultravox album would sound like today.

Yep I also think Amazon downloader is a real pain in the gut to use! Glad to have got it though - I would certainly not mind buying hard copy if one were to come up in the near future. I did find that the album art did download with the Amazon purchase though??

Jus

PS .... isn't the artwork STUNNING?

What a great year 2009 is turning out to be!!!!!

Oh yes Angel, you are so right... Loved it the minute i saw the artwork, then there's the music. God I love it like maaaaaad!!

Mwahhhh Thanks Billy

Ciao

I shall be listening to it for the rest of the evening. What can I say - he's done it again - the mans a genius!!!

Yes it does make one wonder what it would sound like, ok i am partial... I think billy's album are the cream of the solo excursion's (the Italian apologises if i spelt it wrong) of the 80's line up, ok MU's 'answers...' and 'Pure' aren't bad but Billy's are on a different plateau
altogether

Adriana

Great minds think alike!!! Totally agree. Billy's material is sheer class.

Was listening to this again this morning - amazing. Really done a fine job this time! What can I say other than wheeeyyyyy!

Did you notice small snippets from Skips of a Chopped Head in Empty Stage Mantra? (on intro). Owww I'm really pleased with this one. I wish he's play some of this stuff live - that would be really cool.

To those outside UK: Found it on iTunes :-)

Cheers for that, Tor ... I'd already downloaded it from iTunes last night and converted the tracks to WAV files and have burnt-off a CD-R already ... listened to it last night and in the car on the way to work this morning. I concur, this sounds very good from what I've heard so far.

Billy has updated his website with some details ... tracklisting, credits.

Billy: If you read this, is there any chance that you could arrange for higher resolution copies of the cover art and any additional artwork for Refine to be made available? Perhaps it could be put-up on your website or forwarded onto Cerise to put-up in the Media Archive on this website?

Being 'old-school', I'd really like to be able to knock-up full CD artwork for this album, so any additional images would be very much appreciated.


Cheers ...

Early days but on first listen, this is really really good - I'm gonna have to get off my arse and learn how to burn it to a CD.

All done and available on Billy's site.
Ta! Mick (Alex - or whatever I'm called this week)

Desolate Angel. You found me on Twitter!!! How funny.
:p

Fab - thanks Mick!

Err - where is it?

On the news page. Bloody Adobe Flash websites!!

Billy and I have been talking about doing a major overhaul and refit on his site very soon. May be a good idea to move over to HTML. I'll let Billy decide. I'm just a lowly design monkey.

Aloha!
Mick

I just bought this on iTunes and I have to say this is worth every penny.

Thanks for making the cover art available.

I bought "Refine" on I-Tunes too and I must admit it's one of Billy's best albums. The first album will however remain my fave & special one, as I remember that Billy said it was written right after a trip to Bali, Indonesia (where I've been living for the last 13 years), and as I used the "Traveller" track as a soundtrack for a 5 mn "photo-clip" during my studies at a famous Belgian school of photography... ;-)

Thanks Billy, thanks Mick!
x

I think this IS my fav Billy album - I really am taken with it - I'm still a bit lost for words though to put together some sort of review!!! It really is great though - I too was very taken with Transportation - it was my fave - then I kinda got into Push and couldnt really decide between the two but I think Refine wins hands down - I can't quite put my finger on what it is but there is 'something' in this album - I'll get there!! I think its quite a 'deep' album. Sorry to bang on - really impressed though!! As I said to Mick - it took me a while just to get on over the super art work!! Ahhhh it was worth the wait!! I can't believe it actually escaped my radar for a week or so!!!!

PS (write first - think later syndrome - mild attack..) Mr Design Monkey - (there could be a banana in it for you...


do away with Flash - it takes yonks to load on a slow connection - my dongle hates it

Blimey!! It's number 10 in Amazon's Dance and Electronic Chart.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/dmusic/118619031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_dmusic_1_2_last

Congrats Billy!!

Blumin 'eck. Can somebody in touch with Billy let him know (if they haven't already)? Nice one Billy.

Mick: Thank you very much for making your excellent artwork available ... much appreciated.

Would you be prepared to reveal a trade secret and let us know what the fonts are that you've used?

What's the prose incorporated into the artwork?

Oh, and finally, would you happen to have a reasonably recent photo of Billy, perhaps working away in his studio, or otherwise, that might look good behind a clear CD tray?

Sorry, not asking for 'much', eh?

Cheers ...

I've dropped you an email, maate...give us a shout back, please.

Phil.

Pah, Rodney, call that 'old school'.

Personally I like to knock up a vinyl copy on my vinyl press and make a gatefold sleeve for it. I then like to put a "WH Smith £3.99" sticker on it and put it in a plastic sleeve. I also take it home and play it on a 'music centre' in the front room before my mum comes in and tells me it's time for tea and to TURN THAT RACKET DOWN.

That's what I call old school.

So........... I know its early days - but for those who are currently enjoying 'Refine' - what is your top three? Difficult choice I know ... but heres mine

1. Soliloquy
2. Empty Stage Mantra
3. Martyr Points (love the violin solo in this)

wld be interested to know what everyone had as their top plays
Jus

My top three (at the moment):

1 Extremism (love the 'clear' sound)
2 Soliloquy
3 Beyond Our Own Skin

Ok then.

I'm sorry if I got on anyone's dongle. It won't happen again. Promise.

Fonts. I'll have to look them up and find out. (Although it does kinda beg the question why dya wanna know? Are you gonna do a sequel?)

Text. I'm not gonna say - let your imagination fill in the gaps and meaning.

Pictures of Billy. No I'm afraid - I get frisked by his body guards for recording equipment and cameras every time he comes to my house or I go to his.

Take care. Mick
P.S. What's a dongle? Didn't really wanna ask Desolate Angel in case she thought I was

No, nothing dodgy, I assure you, Mick! It's just that my inkjet printer and the glossy card I use doesn't produce a very good result with the small text on your artwork, such as the credits details ... the white gets washed-out by the other colours. I was just wanting to 'overtype' the text and make it a bit more bold so as to get a much sharper print result.

Thanks for your response about a photo, too ... the last lot of photos were for Accidental Poetry Of The Structure (other than those taken on the Ultravox tour), so I was just hoping for a recent 'solo' shot ... no worries.

Thanks again, Mick.

Blimey it's all gone quiet in here………..

Well I eventually got my head together (actually, no I didn’t! I NEVER do that!!! ) - I decided to finish my little album review last night. As usual really enjoyed doing it (unlike the 5 hour long Chinese Experimental music anthology of last week!!!! - eeek).

It should be published within the week and I will share links with you as and when, however, seeing as this is such ANOTHER GREAT GIFT of 2009, I thought I'd share the unedited version with you guys here.

Of course I love all of this album, I was seriously overjoyed to hear it. I had been exicited since first reading it was coming out, but I was still very much taken back with its content when it eventually surfaced - its even better than what I imagined it would be.

Although its very fresh sounding, some of the sounds made me think of both Visage and Ultravox - tracks like 'Stranger Within' for the atmospherics and also 'Mind of a Toy' (intro to Empty Stage Mantra). Great classic sounds presented in a really fresh way, rather than blatantly treading a beaten track if you see what I mean. Should deffo appeal to many on here I would have thought - perhaps more so than previous work.

Biased? Me? Never!!!!!!! (seriously though, those that heard it - it's good innit??) - oppps - PH - I'm doing that multiple punctuation mark thing you hate!!!! Ho ho ho… sorrieeee..

Review incoming shortly - just grabbing the scissors ….. Cut and pasting…... Jus

“Music is…….. reaching out towards upmost realities…,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872 - 1958

‘Refine’ is pure indulgence, presenting a depth of character that expands way beyond the base of a vast ocean. Containing superb moments of light and shade, there remains no shadow of a doubt that this is Billy Currie’s finest output to date. A work of philosophical complexities and strong inner concepts, the ornate album artwork is the perfect pictorial representation.

“Soliloquy” is a vibrant description of flawless portraiture. The opening passage, an amalgamation of gracious violin and piano, gently entice, going forth to exhibit one of albums boldest tracks. Its power and glory is celebrated during outbursts of dynamic synth textures, enhanced with the discrete underlying melody throughout.

The vibrations of “Extremism” extend beautifully alongside a contemporary styled groove; the expressive instrumentation injecting a sense of adventure into what could be a sinister journey, before a more jovial destination is reached in “Supporting the Sky with Both Hands.”

The ornamental and flamboyant “Empty Stage Mantra” flaunts its body, drawing attention to the unconventional & atmospheric string enhancements, before the piano style shows a warm affection towards ‘Quartet’s’ “Cut and Run.” “Beyond Our Own Skin” grants uplifting freedom, completed as it edges into a movement that becomes busied, erratic and heroic.

“People Came and Laughed” is a scene of serenity, promptly switching to a beat driven swing of seduction, further enhanced with lustful keys. Bridged with celebratory sounding synth swirls and crashes of atmospheric improvisation, it’s complemented with a vivid digression to the most beautiful naked piano – all before the tracks final climax.

“Martyr Points” is driven by a catchy ostinato, before breaking into those classic sounds that could easily have emerged from the Ultravox/Visage backwater; yet somehow manage to flow from a fresh natural spring rather than a recycling plant. The violin solo is one of the most engaging flashbacks.

Emulating a creepy cold presence of spirit with its gentle opening chimes is “Bend the Bow,” constructing its own ghostly tune - each note decaying in such a way that lends a darker side to every lurking shadow.

Billy Currie is a virtuoso who continues to seek new forms of conceptual expression. The unrivalled quality that is ‘Refine,’ is set to ensure that demand for Billy’s highly prized originality shall not be diminished.

Refine is a grand result and wonderfully produced - expect a full-bodied unveiling of distinguished and intellectual musical illustration.
------
‘Refine’ is out now and available for digital download at Amazon

Additional artwork can be downloaded from Billy Currie\'s website

Produced by Billy Currie and Peter Dudley.

Album Artwork by Mick O’Farrell of Revolver Creative (U.K)

Spot on again Jus - can't disagree with or add anything to this at all. I particularly liked the quote from Vaughan Williams as well and think it illustrated the review perfectly. I think my fave has to be Martyr Points - again I love anythng with a violin in after studying it for 15 years...... (didn't love it at the time sometimes ). I hope Billy reads this and sees how we all rate it - job's a good 'un Mr Currie and remember "mind my fiddle"

Great review, m'dear!

Great review Jus

May see you at Rusty's party at the weekend then, DA......

Great review Jus

It really enhanced my enjoyment of the album - made me listen to the album in more depth. I'd encourage anyone to read the review while listening, you'll get so much more pleasure from what I believe to be a piece of 'Modern Classical' music.

And congratulations to Mr Currie too - your solo releases just get better all the time.

Martin

Hi Leona
Strangely enough I've just been discussing the logistics of that this morning!

Hoping to be there, however, I've just been reminded I'm going to see an orchestra in Manchester the day before and I'm going to America on Wednesday for a friends/family/concert jaunt! It all came around a bit quick!!

I have no idea who you are though!!!!

All i can say is excellent, the best so far