Over the last seven months, MSN Video Player has been developed both in terms of content and features to enhance the overall user experience. Further content deals have been signed with Endemol, Digital Rights Group, RDF Rights (part of the RDF Media Group), Shed Media, Raw Cut and ContentFilm in addition to the launch partnerships with ALL3MEDIA and BBC Worldwide.

Making the coming together of MSN Video and MSN Video Player to form one single offering: MSN Video Player will enable viewers to watch both TV shows and movies along with music videos, movie trailers, news and TV clips. The service will provide over 1,000 hours of free long-form video content with the number of titles and hours continuing to grow over time. New titles include: Skins, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Embarrassing Bodies, Waterloo Road, Doc Martin, Secret Millionaire, Wife Swap, Faking It, Bad Girls, Footballers’ Wives and Kingdom.

The new MSN Video Player also sees the addition of new features added to strengthen the quality of the user experience. These include:

• HD with Silverlight Smooth Streaming – users will be able to watch video at the highest quality their broadband capability will allow – this can be right up to 720p HD. Smooth Streaming leads to less buffering and enhances the viewing experience

• Personalised Playlist – users can be created and queued to automatically play

• Social media integration – users can point friends and followers to MSN Video Player videos via Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, MySpace, Diggit and other social media tools

MSN is continuing its long heritage of innovation to create engaging services that connect with often hard-to-reach audiences of strong appeal to advertisers. As the UK’s most popular news and entertainment portal, MSN attracts 23 million unique users every month (comScore, December 2009) making MSN, alongside bbc.co.uk, one of the UK’s favourite web portals.

Ashley Highfield, MD of Consumer & Online, Microsoft UK said: “MSN Video Player has been developed with rapidly changing consumer media behaviours in mind. The continuing rise in demand for online professionally produced video has enabled MSN to launch a service that has strong appeal to our users and advertisers. The latest comScore figures show that we are averaging at 25 minutes per viewer, per month on MSN Video Player, a figure that is significantly higher than many of the UK’s existing online TV services which suggests we are hitting the mark with our choice of content for the service.

“MSN Video Player will evolve and grow as a premium online destination for high quality video content over the coming months. We will continue to innovate in this space and work with advertisers, content owners and distributors alike to deliver a service that is highly valued.”

Mark Lesbirel, Director of Publishing at RDF Rights (part of the RDF Media Group) commented:

“It is exciting to be part of this next stage in the MSN Video Player story. Since the launch of the pilot it has gone from strength to strength with a clearly captivated audience. We are committed to producing popular and innovative programmes across various entertainment genres and partnering with an innovative service like MSN Video Player provides us with a platform best suited to consumer demands and advertising needs.”

MSN Video Player is available from here: www.msn.co.uk/video

A lush and orchestral return to form, Of Faith… has received plaudits and praise from the likes of All Music Guide (”In a world where bands like the Hold Steady and the Gaslight Anthem get praise for similar sentiments delivered via rock & roll, there seems to be no reason why VNV Nation shouldn’t get some credit of their own”) to ReGen Magazine (”VNV takes futurepop on its next step in evolution…”).

Evolving their trademark sound by augmenting it with even crisper melodies and stronger hooks, Of Faith is an alt-pop pantheon of sharp and soothing keyboards, full and hearty rhythms, and synthpop dancebeats that both embrace their seminal and illustrious past while looking straight ahead into the future. From the lushly atmospheric and majestic opening track “Pro Victoria” to the powerfully propulsive “Tomorrow Never Comes” to the gentle piano ballad “From My Hands,” this is a strikingly warm album in a genre that tends to be cold, hard and isolating.

With their unique and formidable ability to combine very melodic, danceable electronics with haunting and powerful lyrics, VNV Nation have built a massive fanbase, playing to hundreds of thousands of fans at both their own sold-out shows and major rock festivals worldwide. Their massive hits “Standing” and “Dark Angel” are club staples that still pack dancefloors. Of Faith, Power And Glory was released on June 23, 2009 and charted on Billboard’s Electronic Charts at #5.

VNV NATION TOUR DATES
Mar-16 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge
Mar-17 Ann Arbor, MI Necto
Mar-20 Edmonton, CA New City Suburbs
Mar-22 Towson, MD Recher Theatre
Mar-24 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Mar-25 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
Mar-26 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
Mar-27 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls
Mar-29 Cincinnati, OH Mad Hatter
Mar-30 St. Louis, MO Pop’s Small Room
Mar-31 Nashville, TN Exit/In
Apr-02 New Orleans, LA The Hangar
Apr-03 Austin, TX Elysium
Apr-04 Houston, TX Meridian
Apr-05 Tulsa, OK The Marquee
Apr-07 Lawrence, KS The Granada
Apr-08 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
Apr-09 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
Apr-10 Albuquerque, NM Launch Pad
Apr-12 Pomona, CA Glasshouse
Apr-13 Sacramento, CA Boardwalk
Apr-14 San Diego, CA House of Blues

www.vnvnation.com
www.myspace.com/vnvnation
www.last.fm/music/VNV+Nation

Virstele Pamintului is not an album that can be fully appreciated on the first listen. As I write this article I am listening to the record for the fifth or sixth time and still I am only beginning to unearth its myriad charms. Opening with eerie pipe music that lurks somewhere between a darkened, snow filled forest and the world of Sergio Leone, it is immediately clear that this isn’t the slickly orchestral black metal to be found in bands such as Dimmu Borgir, rather it is the sound of an ambitious and original band exploring their heritage and culture in order to create something quite unique. As the song builds, adding atmospheric vocals and guitar there is a real feeling of expectation for the storm that is about to come, but Negura Bunget are patient and happy to let the music take its course rather than rush to an instant fix of metal as some might. As the music reaches its peak and the vocals become tortured screams the band open up a barrage of guitar and drums in a well-produced and precise assault that will leave the listener breathless. Having set the scene thus, second track ‘Dacia Hiperboreana’ enters on a warm bed of synth music that opens up into a beautiful, reverb-drenched guitar part that is more Pink Floyd than Darkthrone while the vocals ache with raw emotion. It is a stunning track laden with melody as much as power and there is a real beauty contained within the brutality that set Negura Bunget apart as a truly special band.

‘Umbra’ is a dark track that contains more than a hint of Vangelis’ soundtracks in the mid-ninties (1492 springs to mind), with complex and tribal drum patterns underpinning the synth elements.  ‘Ochiul inimii’ is a powerful song that sees acoustic guitars duelling with the increasingly agitated drumming, before the electric guitars tear in, burning a hole in your speakers in the process. Folk elements and metal collide here to stunning effect, while the guitar solos are satisfyingly high in the mix allowing you to appreciate the talent of these musicians as well as their commitment. ‘Che de Roua’ sees the shimmering guitars return to usher in the track, building rapidly into a mountain of noise as the band launch a stinging attack that features clean singing and acoustic elements to offset the ferocity of the band. ‘Tara de dincolo de negura’ is just astonishing, as neo-classical elements and brutal metal collide in a track so brutal it could sear the flesh from your face. ‘Jar’ is a mood piece, all atmospheric synth and eerie sound effects, although it provides welcome breathing space following the claustrophobic  maelstrom of the previous track. ‘Arborele Lumii’ takes the opportunity following so icy a track to smash the vibe to pieces with churning guitar and guttural vocals and then ‘Intoarcerea amurgului’ closes the album with huge, throbbing swathes of earthen bass, acoustic guitar and spoken vocals.

This is an album that defies compartmentalisation and comparison. It stands apart from other black metal bands through its bold invention, yet it is inextricably linked to that movement through spirit. There is a flame that burns brightly at the core of Negura Bunget, a deep-seated connection to the earth and to the natural environment (indeed limited copies of the album come packaged with a sprinkling of the very earth which inspired the album) which sees the music flow as naturally as the scenery that imbued the album with its spirit. This is a stunning album that will undoubtedly appeal to black metallers but which, I feel, has a wider appeal because the underlying themes are so primal and so inherent to anyone who yearns for freedom and nature rather than the trappings of day-to-day life. Negura Bunget are a force of one, a truly unique band who deserve recognition and respect in abundance because here they have created a masterpiece, a musical work of art which will inspire and astound in equal measure in the years to come.

Opening with ‘Toast to famines’, a beautifully phrased lament which recalls Seafood’s haunting vocal harmonies, set to the most skeletal of background beats and eerie violin. It’s a stunning opening that builds over its meagre four minute runtime to a gentle crescendo before ‘Teethy’ trudges in upon a jazzy drum beat and downbeat minor chord vocal harmonies that see the band stretch into Arcade fire territory, but without that band’s sense of orchestrated chaos. ‘Language’ comes next, a song that swells out of guitar drone, with vocals that recall a barbershop quartet at a funeral so mournful are they in execution. ‘Lazarus and dives’ follows and it comes as something of a relief after the deep introspection of the previous track. Simulated vinyl noise and piano come together with programmed drums to create a haunting track that wouldn’t sound out of place on NIN’s Ghosts set; It’s a high point of the record and it is a remarkably beautiful track that sucks you into a reverie.

‘Come, join the sea’ is almost a hymn, based around haunting vocals and a simple piano melody that slowly builds as elements are added into the mix until the whole thing reaches a painful crescendo that echoes around the listener. ‘Attrition’, meanwhile, offers an overwhelmingly distorted bass coupled with an organ to create the backing track to one of the most memorable melodies on the disc. Once again Wive demonstrate their ability to make the most complex and ostensibly difficult musical arrangements accessible and the song is cleverly arranged to make sure that the noise elements never overpower the mix. ‘The day the earth burnt to death’ continues with the NIN-esque elements as a Spartan beat underpins this most melancholy of tracks, and the echoing vocals are gloriously understated. ‘Widows’ surely wins the prize for most unconventional percussion, while the melodies again recall The Arcade Fire’s more experimental moments. ‘Tongve of Callvs’ opens on an unnerving note before powerful yet jazzy drums underpin the track. ‘Slvmber’s edit’ closes the record with piano lost amidst a wall of static and ghostly half-heard voices. It is the perfect ending to this difficult, beautiful, unearthly album.

Wive are a fascinating prospect. They bear similarities to various US indie acts such as Low and Arcade Fire, as well as to Icelandic adventurers Sigur Ros, but ultimately their sound is all their own. The music is sparse, beautiful and yet occasionally deeply complex and there is a harrowing element to the melancholy vocals that would be all but unbearable if it wasn’t for the faintest glimmer of hope that appears from time to time to rescue the listener from the worst excesses of their imagination. That this record is highly recommended almost goes without saying, but it is not a record that I would play with great regularity owing to its sombre nature, rather it is something to be taken out, marvelled at and treasured when the mood strikes. It is hard to imagine hearing a more beautiful or emotive piece of music all year and if you can track down the first run, the first 1000 copies come in a beautiful hand printed bag.

The Sonisphere club nights are back and coming to a town near you! With a bunch of new venues on board and more than 60 nights in over 15 cities between now and Sonisphere 2010 there are no excuses! So get yourselves down to one of these nights to hear tracks by your favourite Sonisphere Acts and get warmed up for Knebworth.

There will be tickets to win at every single club night – and a variety of weird and wonderful things that you have to do to get them. Can you handle putting up your tent whilst being sprayed with super soakers? How’s your best IGGY impersonation? There will also be a handful of Sonisphere Rock Royalty VIP packages up for grabs so keep your eyes and ears open!
This is your chance to meet like minded fans, talk Sonisphere and buddy up before the big weekend. Enjoy!

TELL US ABOUT IT!
Why not send us a video clip or picture of you and your mates at a Sonisphere club night. We’ll put the best ones up on Facebook – send to Sonispherefestivals@kililive.com
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  MARCH  
           
  SURREY   SCHISM : QUAKE   5TH   
  WREXHAM   REDEEMER   5TH   
  BIRMINGHAM   EDDIES   6TH   
  WREXHAM   REBELLION ( U 18’s)   6TH   
  MANCHESTER   MOHO   18TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH / TEESIDE   SUMO   19TH   
  CARDIFF   BOGIEZ   20TH   
  GLASGOW   CATHOUSE   20TH   
  SOUTHAMPTON   RHINOS   25TH   
  LEEDS   FUEL   26TH   
  CHESTER   KRANK   26TH   
  LONDON   DECADENCE   27TH   
  GLASGOW   CLASSIC GRAND   27TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   METROPOLIS   27TH   

  APRIL         
   
  YORK   DUCHESS   1ST   
  SURREY   SCHSIM : QUAKE   2ND   
  BIRMINGHAM   EDDIES   3RD   
  WREXHAM   REDEEMER   9TH   
  LONDON   DECADENCE   10TH   
  WAKEFIELD   REDEEMER   10TH   
  LIVERPOOL   KRAZYHOUSE   10TH   
  WREXHAM   REBELLION   14TH   
  MANCHESTER   MOHO   15TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   SUMO   16TH   
  NEWCASTLE   LEGENDS   16TH   
  CARDIFF   BOGIEZ   17TH   
  GLASGOW   CATHOUSE   17TH   
  SHEFFIELD   CORPORATION   17TH   
  SOUTHAMPTON   RHINOS   22ND   
  LONDON   DECADENCE   24TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   METROPOLIS   25TH   
  LEEDS   FUEL   30TH   
  CHESTER   KRANK   30TH   
  
MAY         
     
  BIRMINGHAM   EDDIES   1ST   
  WOLVERHAMPTON   CIVIC   1ST   
  SURREY   SCHSIM : QUAKE   7TH   
  CARDIFF   FUEL   8TH   
  WREXHAM   REBELLION   12TH   
  WREXHAM   REDEEMER   14TH   
  SHEFFIELD   CORPORATION   15TH   
  MANCHESTER   MOHO   20TH   
  NEWCASTLE   LEGENDS   21ST   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   SUMO   21ST   
  GLASGOW   CATHOUSE   22ND   
  CHESTER   KRANK   28TH   
  LEEDS   FUEL   29TH   
  LONDON   DECADENCE   29TH   
  CARDIFF   BOGIEZ   29TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   METROPOLIS   29TH   
  YORK   DUCHESS   29TH   
  
JUNE         
        
  SURREY   SCHISM : QUAKE   4TH   
  BIRMINGHAM   EDDIES   5TH   
  WREXHAM   REBELLION   9TH   
  CARDIFF   FUEL   12TH   
  MANCHESTER   MOHO   17TH   
  WOLVERHAMPTON   CIVIC   17TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   SUMO   18TH   
  NEWCASTLE   LEGENDS   18TH   
  CARDIFF   BOGIEZ   19TH   
  GLASOW   CATHOUSE   19TH   
  CHESTER   KRANK   25TH   
  LEEDS   FUEL   25TH   
  LONDON   DECADENCE   26TH   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   METROPOLIS   26TH   
  YORK   DUCHESS   26TH   
  
JULY         
       
  SURREY   SHCISM : QUAKE   2ND   
  BIRMINGHAM   EDDIES   3RD   
  CARDIFF   FUEL   10TH   
  LEEDS   REDEEMER   10TH   
  MANCHESTER   MOHO   15TH   
  NEWCASTLE   LEGENDS   16TH   
  GLASGOW   CATHOUSE   17TH   
  LEEDS   FUEL   23RD   
  MIDDLESBOROUGH   METROPOLIS   26TH   

SEE THE BAND LIVE IN EUROPE:

28-Mar Lausanne, Switzerland Le Romandie
30-Mar Cologne, Germany Gebaude 9
31-Mar Hamburg, Germany Molotow
01-Apr Malmo, Sweden Debaser
02-Apr Stockholm, Sweden Debaser
03-Apr Oslo, Norway Garage
04-Apr Gothenburg, Sweden Parken
05-Apr Copenhagen, Denmark Loppen
07-Apr Berlin, Germany Festsaal Kreuzberg *
08-Apr Leipzig, Germany Nato *
09-Apr Hannover, Germany Glocksee *
10-Apr Rotterdam, Netherlands Motel Mozaique Fest
12-Apr Brussels, Belgium Domino Fest@ AB Club
13-Apr Paris, France Point Ephemere
15-Apr Rome, Italy Locanda Atlantide *
16-Apr Bologna, Italy Il Covo *
17-Apr Milan, Italy La Casa Milan 139 *
20-Apr Porto, Portugal Plano B *
21-Apr Lisbon, Portugal ZDB *
22-Apr Madrid, Spain Moby Dick *
23-Apr Valencia, Spain El Tinglado No 2 *
24-Apr Barcelona, Spain Nitsa Club *
26-Apr London, UK Cargo
27-Apr Manchester, UK Sound Control
28-Apr Dublin, IR Whelan’s
29-Apr Cork, IR Cyprus Avenue
30-Apr Glasgow, UK Nice & Sleazy
01-May Newcastle, UK The Cluny 2
02-May Leeds, UK Live In Leeds Festival
03-May Cambridge, UK The Portland Arms
05-May Birmingham, UK The Rainbow
06-May Liverpool, , UK The Masque

 This cd was recorded  live in Tokyo in front of what sounds like an enthusiastic audience helping the atmosphere of an already very good cd. I feel this is one of Sonata Actica’s best cds. The sound is very good, making many of the tracks better than the studio versions. The guitar playing is higher in the mix with crystal clear riffs and solos which are not wild but well played and enjoyable. The performance of the band is good throughout the cd. Plenty of tight musicianship, speedy, rthymic drumming, some good emotive singing in the quieter tracks, decent bass and good guitar work.

 The music is a mix of progressive rock, some heavy stuuff and some classical influences. It’s quite varied and easy to listen to. The first two tracks ‘Weballergy’ and ‘Kingdom For A Heart’ and track 7, ‘Respect the Wilderness’ are similar. Good pacey riff with decent solos, nice keyboard fills and powerful drumming. There are some slower tracks such as the sinister and slightly disturbing ‘End of this Chapter’ and the thoughtful ‘Replica’ where the singing is at it’s best. ‘Black Sheep’ and ‘Wolf and Raven’ has plenty of good guitar and keyboard interplay and steady bass playing. I don’t think therev any bad tracks on the cd. I would recommend this cd and the quite recent cd ‘Unia’ to anyone interested in some well played prog. rock with intelligent lyrics. 

Review by Chris Greenwood