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Parachute Music has announced that their 2014 festival was the last of such events for the organisation. Check out the interview above to hear Mark De Jong talking about the decision. And here's a presser from the organisation.

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True that. The legendary hip hop crew Wu Tang has announced that it's only going to sell ONE copy of its new album. The album might be purchased by a corporation (a la Samsung) who would enjoy the cachet of bringing Wu-Tang's new record to its customers. Or it could be bought by a millionaire who'd keep it to themselves, or even altruistically give it to the rest of the world for free.

Another element to their plan would be taking the artifact itself on a tour of museums, galleries, festivals and such things. There would be a charge to attend, heavy security to guard against recording devices, and visitors would have to listen to the album on headphones provided by the venue. The primary producer of the album, Tarik 'Cilvaringz' Azzougarh explains it like this: “One leak of this thing nullifies the entire concept.”

And while you're on that Wu-Tang buzz, check out Amos Barshad's recent and very excellent 10 part feature on the group at Grantland.

ps. this record is going to leak, right?

With their New Order-esque backing, soulful singing and unique stage presence of their singer Sam Herring, Future Islands have been setting the internet abuzz with their beautifully unusual Letterman performance. If you've been hiding under a rock lately and have yet to see this, their performance of Seasons (Waiting On You) is really something.

Add one of the world's best comic book companies to one of the world's best stories, and you've got a great book. Hip Hop Family Tree #1 is a Fantagraphics (Ghost World etc) comic telling the origin stories of hip hop. Printed on gorgeous paper, they've recreated the nostalgic feel of cheap comic book paper on a high quality stock. The artwork and colouring are stunning.

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Boycrush is the project of Alistair Deverick. Alistair is a very good drummer and a nice dude, which can put you in pretty high demand. Accordingly he's been in such bands as The Sami Sisters, The Hot Grits, Bannerman, Lisa Crawley, The Shades, Watercolours, Panther and The Zoo, Lawrence Arabia, Haunted Love, Lucid 3, and The Ruby Suns. Whewsh, that's quite a list. Blessed with this minimal, dreamy pulse, Secrets shows his own work is up there with the best of his musical collaborations.

Yup, he's alive alright. The Boss keeps on working and doesn't look like he's ever going to stop. With Bruce Springsteen coming to play Auckland this weekend, it's a good a time as any to read up on his storied career.

David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize winning writer and editor of The New Yorker, has penned what's said to be one of the most thorough profiles of Springsteen. Titled We Are Alive: a Portrait of Bruce Springsteen, it's freshly arrived on our shelves. If that takes your fancy, click here to find which libraries have it/request it be brought to your local library.

And if you're not convinced, check out Remnick's excellent New Yorker feature by the same name.

I sorta swore off going to any music festivals this year. The reasons for that went: too expensive (everything), the beer lines are too long (Laneway), no beer lines/very little interesting bands (Parachute), asking myself 'do I even really like live music/do I really like being in the midst of 20,000 people?' (Big Day Out), intense social anxiety (Camp A Low Hum). I know that most of these reasons can be overcome by the right combination of bands and good company, but I'm generally OK with my summer of (not) music watching. Whenever someone would ask me about what music things I was going to this summer, I'd just say I was too broke and vaguely speculate about trying to find a spare comp ticket floating around without any real plan to do that.

Funnily, while a lot of festivals these days increasingly feature folk revival artists, I'd completely forgotten about the Auckland Folk Festival itself. I'd never been before and wasn't familiar with more than a few names on the lineup, but I had an opportunity to go for free. I was curious, but had no idea what to really expect.

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Yumi Zouma are a New Zealand trio with former Bang! Bang! Eche! guitarist Charlie Ryder in their ranks. 'The Brae' is their second single and they're set to release a self titled debut EP next month via Cascine. The song's a dreamy bed of synthesiser and angelic vocals, and if it takes your fancy, you can preorder the EP via the link on their Soundcloud widget below.

It's been a six year hiatus for the notoriously prolific Nick Harte of the Shocking Pinks, but the former Flying Nun and DFA artist is set to release a forthcoming triple (!) LP titled Guilt Mirrors.

Featuring Gemma Syme (Holiday With Friends, 47 Diamantes) on guest vocals, hear 'St Louis' from the forthcoming record via the Soundcloud widget below. The album comes out on February 18 on the Brooklyn based record label Stars & Letters.

Auckland rockers Clap Clap Riot have been working away on a new record set to come out in February. Produced by Kody Nielson of the Mint Chicks, the early returns on Nobody/Everybody show a different sonic palette and a welcome 1960s flavour. Check out Sweet Patricia via the Soundcloud widget.

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