James Lavelle's Unkle Reigns Again

Onetime progressive trance/ house compilations label GU are re-releasing James Lavelle's Unkle album Never, Never Land this week as well as his collaboration with Stone Roses singer Ian Brown, the appropriately titled Reign.

The album previously came out on Universal Island last year though disappeared when the former Mo Wax chief "parted company' from the major label.

"I am really pleased that all our hard work on this album will now see the light of day in America and we get the chance to continue what we started over at Island here in the UK," said Lavelle this week.

"I also feel that GU is the perfect label to work with on this project as it feels more intimate and personal, more like the old Mo-Wax way of working."

His optimism contrasted sharply with his stance towards the music industry two years ago, when he told Skrufff he saw the music industry as being "full of horrific people' lacking in faith and artistic talent or perception.

"The people running the industry these days have no connection with the product they're trying to sell. You've got accountants running the music industry," he complained.

"When making money becomes more important than what the product is, it's a very dangerous line to cross. I don't think it's any different if you're selling potatoes; you either sell shit potatoes or good ones. The music industry has become so basic; it's so void of any development."

It's also saturated," he added.

"If you look at genres like dance music, hip hop and house alone, the volume of records being released is astronomical, it's too much. The artistic side is also hurting right now. Basically, the industry's in a fucking nightmare state right now because everybody's scrapping for something," he said.

Unkle's Reign featuring Ian Brown is out shortly on Universal Records.
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