Elbow have been talking about their eagerly-anticipated new album, the follow-up to the hugely-acclaimed "Leaders Of The Free World". Talking from their studio, frontman Guy Garvey said the album will be much darker than anything else they've done in the past.

He revealed: "On Leaders Of The Free World you heard the big room all over it. You won't hear that this time. It takes you into different atmospheres for each song."

He also revealed what the cover art would look like. "On the cover they'll be a picture of Jupp (drummer Richard Jupp), with a fedora hat on, but you can only see one eye? He's teasing the brim down over the other eye with a coquettish look on his face."

Guy also revealed that the band couldn't decide what to call the album - either Ustinov in tribute to the late actor and raconteur Peter Ustinov or Teasing The Brim.

Babyshambles have finally put pen to paper and signed a record deal.Pete Doherty and his men have pulled off a reported £1 million contract with Parlophone.

Kevin McCabe from the label confirmed it is all sorted:

"It's true that Pete and Babyshambles have been given the record deal - I can't confirm the specific details as to whether it's a three album deal, but he has signed."

Last night he celebrated with a show in East London at the Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel, where for the first time in ages, he earned rave reviews - and turned up on time.

The deal proved third time lucky yesterday for Doherty as he also had an encouraging court appearance at Thames Magistrates Court, where a judge praised his progress in beating drug addiction.

Parlophone, which is owned by EMI, licensed the band's The Blinding EP in August and was biding its time before offering a longer-term deal.

A source close to the band says:

"Parlophone hasn't even mentioned Pete's drug taking. There are no lifestyle clauses in the contract, so it hasn't put any extra pressure on Pete to give up drugs."

Kaiser Chiefs have named their forthcoming second album.The album – entitled "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" and due for release on 26th February - has its' title inspired by the track "The Angry Mob", which the band premiered at the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals last year.

The follow-up to 2005's "Employment" was produced by Stephen Street and was recorded at Hook End studio in Reading.

The tracklisting runs: -

"Ruby"
"The Angry Mob"
"Heat Dies Down"
"High Royds"
"Love Is Not A Competition (But I'm Winning)"
"Thank You Very Much"
"Can Do Without You"
"My Kind Of Guy"
"Everything Is Average Nowadays"
"Boxing Champ"
"Learnt My Lesson Well"
"Try Your Best"
"Retirement"

The album will be preceded by the single "Ruby" on 19th February.

Arcade Fire have unveiled the release date and tracklisting for their new album "Neon Bible".According to a video posted by the band on You Tube, the follow-up to 2005's "Funeral" is out on 5th March, and will be preceded by the single "Black Mirror".

The LP features 11 tracks, including a re-recording of "No Cars Go", which originally appeared on the band's 2003 eponymous mini-album.

The tracklisting runs: -

'Black Mirror'
'Keep The Car Running'
'Neon Bible'
'Intervention'
'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations'
'Ocean Of Noise'
'The Well & The Lighthouse'
'(Antichrist Television Blues)'
'Windowsill'
'No Cars Go'
'My Body Is A Cage'

Meanwhile, tickets for the band's five New York shows sold out mere minutes after going on sale last Friday morning (5th January), with tickets being offered for sale on eBay before they were even available to the public.

The shows at Judson Memorial Church in the city are set to take place next month in the city's West Village. In an effort to prevent high prices on eBay and other websites, the promoters listed strict admission rules stating the ticket purchaser must enter the venue, and only full parties are to be admitted.

However, before the tickets officially went on sale, an auction had appeared on eBay, which and listed the winning bid at over USD2,000.

The shows will take place between 13th and 17th February.

Arctic Monkeys have lifted the lid on their "very different" new album.The follow-up to their massively successful 2006 debut "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" is due in the spring, and frontman Alex Turner has revealed that the songs will reflect on their amazing experiences since things took off for them.

He said: "We started off getting this practice room where we tried to write. There were lots of bits left over and we just tried to sort it all out, get organised a bit. The songs are very different from last time. For the first album we locked ourselves away in the middle of nowhere, whereas this time we've been out in the Smoke, going out and stuff. I think that's maybe reflected in the songs a little bit.

"In terms of sound, a lot of the ones we've done so far are a bit full-on. A bit like "From The Ritz To The Rubble", "The View From The Afternoon", that sort of thing. We've tried to get proper rhythms - it seems like in rock there's a lot of boring rhythms. We've tried to experiment - that's a bit of a dangerous word, but we've tried to push on with that. We'd be in soundchecks and it would be, "Fucking hell, what's that?" so we'd record it on a phone. We've ended up with breaks almost. I've always been into beats, we were into that before we were into The Strokes.

"I don't think the new stuff will shock people - I don't think anybody expects us to do the same as the first album but with strings. That's what bands do a lot of the time, isn't it? We're not old enough to do that yet!"

Thousands of fans flocked to Harlem in New York last night to pay tribute to James Brown, who died on Christmas Day aged 73.Many filed past his body as it lay in state at the Apollo Theatre where he launched his career. He'd been taken there after his coffin had been driven through the streets in a horse-drawn carriage.

Among those paying their respects was black civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, who spoke to the crowd, saying: "This man stood for us, the common man".

He added: "It was James Brown that with one song erased the word negro from our vocabulary forever and made us say it and say it loud, that we were black and we were proud. He proved to us if you believe in God and you believe in yourself you can make it no matter what."

Crowds of people danced and sang in the streets outside the threatre as his music was played from portable stereos and local shops.

Meanwhile, the sounds of Brown's hits was also played inside the auditorium as fans filed past his open gold coffin, where he lay in a blue suit, white gloves and silver shoes.

Brown's body will be taken to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, for a private ceremony later today before his body travels to the city's 8,500-seat James Brown Arena for another public service, again overseen by Reverend Sharpton.

Augusta's mayor Deke Copenhaver said attention was going to be focusing on James Brown Square in the city for his funeral. "One of the most beautiful things I've seen is the outpouring of people coming to pay tribute to him at the James Brown statue," he said.

It's also been reported that director Spike Lee is to make a film about the late US star with Brown having approved the use of his music on the soundtrack.

With a career stretching back over 50 years, the legendary performer collected a stack of awards as well as releasing dozens of classic records.

And he continued performing right up until his death - most recently in the UK, playing the BBC Electric Proms at the Camden Roundhouse.

As one of the most sampled artists of all time, his musical influence went beyond soul, funk and disco, to hip hop, rock and R'n'B.

Tributes have poured in since his death from the likes of George W Bush, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard and Usher.

U2 frontman Bono is being awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen in the New Year's Honours list, it was announced today.The British Embassy in Dublin said that the singer - real name Paul Hewson - was being given the honour for "his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work."

Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated him, telling the singer in a letter: "You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa."

A statement on the band's website said Bono, who has lobbied Western leaders to increase aid to developing countries and cancel Third World debt, was "very flattered" to receive the award.

However, much like fellow Dubliner Bob Geldof, he won't be allowed to call himself Sir because he's not a British national citizen.

Organisers of Fatboy Slim's forthcoming New Year's Day beach party in Brighton have unveiled plans to enforce tough restrictions.A special enclosure will be set up on Madeira Drive, west of the Concorde 2 venue over the weekend for the Big Beach Boutique 3 gig.

Organisers claim it will not be possible to view the show for free from the upper promenade and the Marine Parade will be fenced off.

The tough restrictions have been put in place to prevent a repeat of his 2002 summer beach party which resulted in 250,000 people descending on Brighton.

No alcohol or glass will be allowed into the concert enclosure and fans will not be allowed on the pebble beach, reports BBC News.

As part of the performance, which kicks off at 3pm and runs through until 8pm, the DJ aka Norman Cook will canvas local opinion on issues such as Brighton and Hove Albion's new proposed stadium.

Doves have relocated to a new studio in the Peak District to record their fourth studio album.The band have taken a break from their M56 base and moved into a cottage in Derbyshire where they are working on new songs which they hope to record in February 2007.

Writing on their official website the Manchester three-piece said: "For anyone under the impression that we've been sitting back holidaying/taking it easy, they'd be mistaken, we've been grafting hard for the last few months, writing lots & lots of songs / music.

"This record has required a little more writing & work to find a direction, something that feels new to us, that's just the way it is sometimes, but thank f**k we're getting there now."

The band have also revealed details of the album's artwork, which will be a shot of a llama farm next to the cottage.

The three-piece said they are hoping to release the follow-up to "Some Cities" between the summer and autumn of 2007.

Clinic have announced a number of UK dates for 2007. The eccentric Scousers play four dates, taking in Nottingham, Glasgow, Brighton and Manchester this coming February.

A rescheduled London date is expected to be announced shortly after the band were forced to cancel their St Martin's College gig last week after students protested against it.

The tour coincides with the release of their new single 'If You Could Read Your Mind' on 5th February.

The dates are: -

Nottingham, The Social – 3rd February
Glasgow Optimo – 5th
Brighton Concorde 2 – 9th
Manchester Club Academy – 10th