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INTRODUCTION

Our little baby's all growed up

Take a candle, stick it in a cake, light it and then blow it out - your bouncing baby MILC is now a whole year old! We're still a bit tentative about solids and are far from toilet trained, but toddling is on the horizon and sentences like "No! MILC is the bestest!" are but a tear-stained tantrum away...

It's been a great year, with Fightstar, Steve Dub, Zero 7, Skitz, Phill Brown, Grandadbob, Jamie T, Mike Spencer, The Klaxons and more all coming along for the ride. We've Pushed The Button to help half a dozen or so good causes, kept you up to date with all our clients' meandering and mumblings and with luck and love the next year's issues will just as splendidly splendid.

This month we've got an interview with the legend that is Howie B, a profile of our man (and Sunshine Underground's and Happy Mondays' and The Spinto Band's) Ben Thackeray, more Client Watch shenanigans, the return of the foul-mouthed king of Sheffield, a little Bellarosa connecting and more. So much more.

Contents

Howie B
Producer interview Ben Thackeray
Staff Profile Miloco Client Watch
Recent clients at Miloco Push The Button
Human Kindness
Tom Wilcox
Artist profile The Bellarosa Connection
Band profile Recent releasesNew releases recorded at Miloco
Interview

Howie B

# Howie B is a producer, DJ, record label boss, clothes designer, artist and well, pretty much anything else that enables him to get his creative juices flowing.

In musicland, his CV highlights include the likes of Tricky, Bjork, Soul2Soul, Skylab, U2, Wim Wenders' soundtrack 'End of Violence' and Pussyfoot Records, while the last 6 months have seen him working with Italian rockers Ego, the resurgent Happy Mondays and Casino Royale, sweethearts of the Milan music scene.

MILC sat down with Howie in a cafe round the corner from Miloco's Garden studios, supped tea and talked of astronauts, record labels and almost-made porn films... To read more click here.

Staff profile

Ben Thackeray

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Each issue we introduce you, one by one, to Miloco's wonderful array of staff. And after last issue's chat to Sophie we're now heading back into the realm of sweaty pale boys who sleep rarely, eat pies constantly, and ne'er ever emerge from noisy electric lamp-lit rooms cos they love to rock and dance and make melody so very damned much.

This month's attention is being devoted to young Ben Thackeray. More often than not seen in the company of Mr and Mrs Dub's favourite son, Steve, Ben's been busy this last year with the likes of The Spinto Band, Sunshine Underground, Boy Kill Boy, Madness, Fink and the Happy Mondays. So to learn a little of The Thack, click this way: Ben Thackeray to find out...
Miloco client watch

Client Watch

We spy with our beady eye... Yes we're here again, my dears. Keeping a sniper's watch on our recent customers as they clatter clumsily about the world with their eyes full of tears because their time in our studios has come to an end (for the time being) and life, well, is pretty darn empty without us. They try touring, they try releasing records, they even try running festivals or resort to swearing a lot. But a Miloco-shaped hole is hard to fil...

Lovebox lands


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Yes, it's back. 22-23 July sees Groove Armada's award-winning festival take up residence in Victoria Park, London.

As always, there's a stupendous line-up, featuring everyone from Jamie Liddle to Tiger Lillies, Mark Ronson to Jim Noir, and, of course, the Armada themselves.


There's also Spiegel Tents and Healing Tents, an Insect Circus and Funfair. Surely that'll do?

Head along to www.volvic.loveboxweekender.com/ for the full line-up and how to get hold of tickets.

Reading on the road to Reading


The astonishingly catchy Good Books are taking their melodies on the road ahead of some requisite festival action. Here are some impending dates: Jul 14 2006 Crypt, Hastings
Jul 22 2006 Truck festival, Oxfordshire
Jul 28 2006 Pressure Point, Brighton
Jul 29 2006 Forum, Tunbridge Wells
Aug 24 2006 Sugarmill, Stoke
Aug 25 2006 Jug of Ale, Birmingham
Aug 26 2006 Reading Festival
Aug 27 2006 Leeds Festival

Get Well Soon, Billy


We haven't had Les Incompetents down at Miloco but we'd like to wish their singer well. Billy Leeson was beaten up after a recent gig in Camden and has been in a coma ever since.

Some travelling Milocoites were lucky enough to see the band at The Great Escape in Brighton and we hope all turns out well and we'll have the chance to do so again sooner rather than later.

All love, All@Miloco

Foulmouthed e-Cocker


# # Everyone's favourite Sheffield bespectacled beanpole has re-launched his solo career online. Having previously treated us to solo material under the name Relaxed Muscle, the new stuff bear's his own name and is out now on Myspace. 'Running The World' features a few preceding words, one of which is perhaps the choicest available. (For those of you not willing to research the matter further, shame on you. Anyway, it rhymes with grunts, shunts and shopfronts). The former Mr Pulp's tune is inspired by last year's Live 8 event and is the first of many new songs destined for impending radio-edit success. There's a whole album on the way (we know cos we've been mixing it). So make sure your Granny's out of the room and head to www.myspace.com/jarvspace for a listen/download. It was mixed in our SSL Room in June 2006 with producer Graham Sutton.

Spinto UK live things


America's finest indie exports are back in Blighty next month in support of forthcoming single 'Oh Mandy', out on 14 August.

Aug 20: Bristol Academy (August 20)
Aug 21: York Fibbers (21)
Aug 22: Birmingham Bar Academy (22)
Aug 23: Nottingham Social (23)
Aug 24: Norwich Arts Centre (24)
Aug 26/27: Carling Weekend: Reading then Leeds Festival

Depeche Videoed


"One of the greatest British pop groups of all time" (Sunday Telegraph) is going to release a DVD/CD box-set of "the most enjoyable, rewarding live show we've ever done" (Dave Gahan).

Touring The Angel: Live in Milan is directed by Blue Leach and due out on 25th September. It features the band's performances at Fila Forum (yes, that's in Milan) on 18th & 19th February this year.

"For us, everything came together - it was one of our definitive live moments" so says Andy Fletcher.

 

Trivium swallow sword gladly

Trivium made off with no less than three Metal Hammer Awards last month, the lucky blighters.

They won "Best Live Band", Travis Smith won "Best Drummer" and Matt Heafy won the coveted "Golden God" award. Which rather marvellously isn't an award at all. It's a ludicrously large sword. Presumably made of very, very heavy metal.

Trivium recently wrapped up their Colin Richardson-mixed album in our Neve Room and have now left these gentle Big Brothered shores. So congratulations on the award and album, gents, and best of luck getting that curious-shaped suitcase through airport security.

Eric Drew Feldman

# # Fresh from co-producing (with Rob Ellis) the forthcoming Charlotte Hatherley album, the incomparable Mr Feldman is heading back to the US to be reunited with long term sparing partner Frank Black nee Black Francis.

He's picking up his bass and keyboards and heading out on the road as part of Mr Black's band, in support of his latest release, Fastman/Raiderman. After the tour (which is sadly not visiting these shores) Eric's due to take charge of the production on the next slice of post-Pixies LP lusciousness.

Eric was in our Neve VR Room for the Ben Hillier mix of Charlotte's follow-up to Grey Will Fade.

Baby Bob


# Those northern disco pop soundscape builders, Grandadbob, have got a new record out through Southern Fried. 'Hide me' is taken from their forthcoming album 'Garden of Happiness' and to celebrate its release and a field full of upcoming live dates, they've launched a handy mini-site. Pop along to www.makeinteractive.co.uk/Grandadbob/ and check out their doings for yourself.

You can also win tickets to the Electric Gardens Festival on 5/6 August...

Hot Chip joy for Inter-Rail ticket holders


Them there Hot Chips are spreading their pop-tastic love across Europe over the next few months. So, should you find yourself perplexed at Pukklepop or lonesome in the lowlands, here are some dates for you. (And a couple in the Kingdom & States they call United.)

Jul 14 Melt Festival Dessau
Jul 16 Calvi on the Rocks Festival Corsica
Jul 20 Old School Hall Bristol
Jul 22 Lovebox Festival London
Aug 1 Independent San Francisco, CA
Aug 2 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
Aug 4 Seaport festival New York, NY
Aug 5 Onopa Milwaukee, WI
Aug 6 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
Aug 11 Oya Festival Oslo
Aug 19 Pukkelpop Festival Hasselt
Aug 20 Lowlands Festival Amsterdam
Aug 25Carling Festival, Leeds
Aug 26 TDK X central Festival London
Aug 27 Carling Festival, reading Reading
Sep 2 Indian Summer Festival Glasgow
Sep 3 Electric Picnic near Dublin
Sep 10 Bestival Isle Of Wight

Human kindness

Push The Button

# Welcome to MILC's bi-monthly quest for us all to help spread a little human kindness... Just click on the button and lend your support to some honourable cause or another. It'll only take a moment.

This month we're asking you to help the NSPCC support an Early Day Motion to ensure all children who suffer sexual abuse are able to access the therapeutic services they require. You can ask your MP to support the EDM and send an e-postcard to Patricia Hewitt asking for her support.

As usual with Push The Button, it'll only take you a mo, and you'll feel much better about yourself afterwards. Head along to: campaigning.nspcc.org.uk/nspcc/June06/index.htm





Band Profiles

This month we've got a little bit of something very new and a little bit more of something a little bit older but no less marvellous. First up, three young men with their eyes on the prize and a penchant for Noel Edmonds, The Bellarosa Connection. And then we've got producer Tom Wilcox, currently in Miloco with Gillian Glover but also part way through a project with Vita Ross. Oh, and he was sick on stage once.

The Bellarosa Connection

# There are only three of them, they all sing and they all wear braces. (The trouser kind, not the wonky tooth kind.) They're also still unsigned despite being the best thing at The Great Escape, and have just recorded their debut material at Miloco, with our own Finnbar Eiles on production duty. Here's a little of what they've got to say for themselves... Bellarosa

Tom Wilcox

# Most people would consider their life a success if they'd fronted a band called Maniac Squat. Still more would retire merrily to the garden, happy in the knowledge they'd started a band called The Chavs (no, not that one, this one came first). However, Mr Wilcox has done anything but rest on his laurels and is currently busy with two projects here at Miloco. Click on, then, click on Tom.
Recent releases

Recent Releases

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Jarvis Cocker - 'Running The World'


It ain't in the shops but you can still get it in your ears. Just head along to Jarvis' jarvspace and see/hear for yourself. It's sing-a-long foulmouthed social commentary kids! www.myspace.com/jarvspace

 

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Winnebago Deal - 'Flight of the Raven'


Debut album from the Oxford rock/metal duo produced by none other than Jack 'Sub Pop' Endino. Songs for the album were tracked in The Square in Jan 06. www.winnebagodeal.com

 

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Grandad Bob - 'Hide Me'


The new single from Grandadbob's forthcoming second album, and delightful poppy utterances abound. Vanessa & David were mixing in Miloco's The Garden with producer Liam Howe in the winter of 2005. www.grandadbob.co.uk
www.myspace.com/grandadbobmusic

 

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James Dean Bradfield - 'That's no way to tell a lie'


Out on the 10th July, this is the first single from his debut solo album, The Great Western. Mr Bradfield was tracking with Guy Massey in The Square back in the winter of 2005. www.jamesdeanbradfieldofficial.com

 



In addition to these fair few, there's been a pile of other show-stopping Miloco releases of late. For a full rundown of all of them - including Jamie T, James Dean Bradfield (the album), Plan B, Fields and more - head in a this link kinda direction: Recent Releases