Electric Six Take on North America
Danger! Danger! New Album!

Last week, a perplexing post popped up on the official Electric Six website: "In a tragic, yet intriguing, turn of events," it read, "Electric Six synthesizer player Tait Nucleus? this morning was administered the 'Chinese Cocktail' by a group of thugs who wanted him out of the picture.....permanently," it read. "However, every cloud is a lining. As long as he does enough crank and trucker speed, as long as keeps snapping peoples' necks and punching brick walls, he can live. He's gotta keep going.....keep moving......keep running.....fuck every person he sees, jump every motorcycle off of every drawbridge, jump out of every airplane, crash every car. Keep it up....1,000 percent of the time. Do that, and he'll be just fine....."

Wait a second...isn't that new movie Crank...ohhhhh, I get it. You jokers!

Electric Six will inject America with yet another dose of their silly disco-punk starting next week, when they release their SECOND album of the year, Switzerland, on September 12, courtesy of Metropolis Records. (It comes out in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands on September 15, and in the UK "either September 25 or October 2", according to the band's website.) That same day, they'll kick off their "Swiss Vengeance Tour". So watch out.

On September 21, E6 will play the "South Park" tenth anniversary party in L.A. That's so...appropriate.

The band also has a new video for the track "I Buy the Drugs", which you may view here. What's that? The sound of speakers across the country being turned down at once? Five out of five stars! [MORE...]

MSTRKRFT Kick off Tour

Now that Death From Above 1979 have called it quits, it's time to make do with the next best thing: bassist Jesse F. Keeler's other band, the disco duo MSTRKRFT. Following the release of their full-length The Looks on Last Gang Records earlier this year, Keeler and partner Al-P are boarding their mastercraft and speeding off on a fall tour, which kicks off tonight in NYC. [MORE...]

Cyann & Ben Prep Third Album, Tour

Dreamy French popsters Cyann & Ben are having a busy month. The former Gooom-ies are now signed to Ever Records, on which they released a four-song aperitif of an EP on August 14. The Sunny Morning EP featured two tracks from the band's forthcoming full-length-- "Sunny Morning" (which features vocals from Espers' Greg Weeks) and "Let It Play"-- in addition to two other completely new songs and a Sylvain Gouverneur-directed video for "Let It Play".

The full-length, Sweet Beliefs, is scheduled for a European release this coming Monday, September 11. The label's website calls the album more of the same "psychedelic, noble, fragile, pastoral, experimental and incandescent...otherworldly grandeur" we've come to expect from the deceptively named quartet. Ever Records is planning to release both the EP and the LP in the U.S. in early 2007, but exact dates have yet to be confirmed.

The band have also just announced European dates for the fall. They begin September 19 in Paris and end December 13 in Strasbourg. Needless to say, it's a French-heavy itinerary. [MORE...]

Shearwater Migrate Eastward on North American Trek

Over the Okkervil River and through the woods to venues across North American Shearwater go. The band behind this year's lovely Palo Santo (Misra Records) has revealed the tour itinerary for a second round of Santo-supporting dates in the States and Canada.

In the midst of this September trek, Shearwater will stop off at the Daytrotter.com studio in Rock Island, Illinois to, we assume, record some Daytrotter session tracks. Our winged friends will thereby join the ranks of esteemed trotters like Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Sunset Rubdown, Oakley Hall, and Cold War Kids. [MORE...]

Serena Maneesh Kick Off North American Tour

Serena Maneesh just scribbled a check mark next to "Europe", paving the way for their next to-do list item: North America. The Oslo crew has made its way to our shores for a fall tour, the first date of which will go down tonight at New York City's Bowery Ballroom.

As previously reported, Serena Maneesh have a bun in the oven-- the "Sapphire Eyes" single, due September 25 on Playlouderecordings. [MORE...]

Video: Mercury Prize Performances

In case you missed it, the most prestigious music award in all of England and Ireland-- the Nationwide Mercury Prize-- just went to four unassuming Sheffield lads with the wtf name Arctic Monkeys.

While the Arctics did not perform at the Prize's posh gala Tuesday night, several other contenders did, including Thom Yorke, Guillemots, and Editors. Now, thanks to the magic of YouTube, folks an ocean over (and across the globe) have the chance to scope these los-- er, non-winners in action.

Yorke casts quite the spell with a haunting rendition of "Analyse", which somehow makes the massive award ceremony venue seem claustrophobic and desolate. Check that lovely death glare he gives the audience, too-- classic. Guillemots' Fyfe Dangerfield, meanwhile, hams it up with mad hatter attire and a pretty slick if slightly overblown performance of rollicking single "Trains to Brazil". Editors play it straight and kinda dull, dialing in "All Sparks".

And, for kicks, check out those mangy Monkeys, reluctantly chatting up their victory at a press conference.

Isobel Campbell to Lay Down Milkwhite Sheets
Exclusive MP3!

"The guy who mastered my album usually works on death metal records. He said it sounds 'satanic'! I was quite flattered..." You're not going to believe the source for that one, kids. Well, yes, a press release (duh), but the quote came from none other than ex-Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell.

The chanteuse has remained true to her word to put out two albums in 2006, and has announced the release of Milkwhite Sheets, due November 6 via V2 in the U.S.

Unlike album #1, the Mercury Prize short-listed, Mark Lanegan-co-credited Ballad of the Broken Seas, Campbell sings by herself on Sheets. In fact, one track, titled "Loving Hannah", features her voice over no instrumental accompaniment at all. Ooh, gutsy.

The album, recorded in tandem with and shortly after Ballad, was inspired by a variety of folk artists (Shirley Collins, Anne Briggs, Jean Ritchie) and features several Campbell-reworkings of traditional songs.

The fine folks over at V2 were kind enough to hook Pitchfork up with an exclusive track from Milkwheet Sheets, "O Love Is Teasin'". [MORE...]

Photos: Comets on Fire [Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL; 09/03/06]

The beginning of the Comets on Fire set at Chicago's Empty Bottle this past weekend captured what I imagine the end of the world will feel like-- ears pummelled, lungs collapsed, body contorted from a constant assault of sonic booms. Simply put: fucking awesome.

The California crew played old and new material, including songs from the recently released Sub Pop LP Avatar. The first few songs showcased the Comets that most people may know: Utrillo Kushner drumming in purely menacing and spasmodic fashion, while Ethan Miller laid into his vocals and guitar like a grizzly bear-- and we ain't talkin' the pretty, Warp-signed variety either.

But when Kushner switched to keyboards, the quintet shelved the hysterics to share a newer sound heard on Avatar. With Miller's gentle vocals over the melodic spirals of distorted guitar, you probably saw a few tears in the crowd of rough-and-tumble hipsters. Simply put: beautiful. Though the audience wanted more by the time Comets finished, they were just too tired, said Miller. Understandably so; soundtracking the apocalypse is hard, people.

Fatigued or no, CoF keep truckin' next month. Dates and more photos ahead. [MORE...]

Zach Hill and Rob Crow's Holy Smokes Prep Second LP
Holy smokes! An exclusive MP3!

The children of today are the future tomorrow (and the next day and the next), which is why all you moms and pops should Talk to Your Kids About Gangs. If you take your orders from the indie-noise supergroup Holy Smokes, that is. Need we mention that their first record was called Masculine Drugs? And it came with a book? That's what we thought.

The group, spearheaded by drummer extraordinaire Zach Hill (Hella/The Ladies/Team Sleep/Nervous Cop/Zach Hill and Mick Barr) and co-conspirator Dan Elkan, and featuring Rob Crow of Pinback/Three Mile Pilot, Carson McWhirter of the Advantage, Jonathan Hischke of the Flying Luttenbachers, as well as Ian Hernandez and J.R. Thompson, will release Talk to Your Kids, their Skin Graft Records debut on November 7.

Check out a sneak peak of the album with this exclusive download of the titanic noise-metal track "Quantum Leaper of Los Angeles County". You'll realize immediately why they signed to Skin Graft.

[MORE...]

Love Is All Return to North America
Debut album gets re-released with wider distribution

For those who weren't sufficiently smitten the first time around, and for those whose love for live Love Is All has gone unrequited, North Americans finally have a second chance at sweet amore: the noise-pop notables return to the States and Canada this autumn for some heartwarming touring action.

The band behind the Pitchfork-approved LP Nine Times That Same Song will hit up all those groovy cities your friends are moving to, including New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and more. Denizens of P4k's hometown of Chicago, meanwhile, must remain Love Is All-lorn for the time being. Phooey.

And just what, you ask, beckoned these enthusiastic Swedes yonder? Why, a release of course-- but don't inflate yr hopes too much, mister. Unless you live in Iowa or something: What's Your Rupture? Records will re-release Nine Times That Same Song on October 17. No new tracks or anything, but v. 2.0 will see wider distribution. Which means it might just turn up at the local record shop in some corn-infested state near you.

Your lovely pals also have new UK single on the way. "Make Out Fall Out Make Up" arrives October 2 via Parlophone (in CD and 7" formats) and features non-album B-sides "Kiss Kiss Kiss" and "Lost Thrills". [MORE...]

Pan Sonic Embark on Rare U.S. Tour

Yes, they may hail from the sweet land of salmiakki and moomins, but Finnish experimental techno duo Pan Sonic are notorious for their crushing lives shows. Now, two years after their last proper release (the four-disc set Kesto), they're coming to crush the States with their aggressive beats on a rare U.S. tour. Beginning tonight in Allston, MA, the tour stops in various major cities (+ New Haven) and wraps up with two nights in L.A. [MORE...]

Smog Collaborates With Joanna Newsom, Tours

We're not sure if Bill Callahan (aka Smog) and Joanna Newsom are still dating, but the pair sure have been hanging out a lot recently. First of all, Newsom took that photo of Callahan you see above. Callahan returned the favor by contributing backing vocals to "Only Skin", track four on Newsom's forthcoming epic album Ys. (Or maybe he was returning the favor for her piano work on "Rock Bottom Riser".)

And on Tuesday, Newsom joined Callahan on stage at the Cactus Café in Austin, Texas. Wearing her trademark Renaissance Faire sleeves and a gigantic belt, Newsom accompanied Smog on keyboards for the entire set. Chalk it up to the Negro Modelos and whiskey, or to pure chemistry or whatever; the pair turned out a spectacular set.

Callahan's spare guitar picking was fleshed-out by Newsom's warm keys, at turns percussive and melodic and even verging on prog at times. The drama infused into the Smog material eventually galled Callahan into his beloved four-step jigs, despite the intimacy of the club's small capacity. Mutual buddy Jim O'Rourke would've been proud.

The set consisted mostly of songs from last year's A River Ain't Too Much to Love, but the night's highlights hung on two Knock Knock favorites ("Teenage Spaceship" and encore "River Guard") and the Drag City Supersession cut "Nothing Rises to Meet Me". The two pulled every re-invention off so effortlessly, and so refreshingly, that Drag City should seriously consider underwriting a Smog Family Plays (Smog)'s Greatest Hits.

UPDATE: Reader Erik Bogle confirmed that Newsom also backed Callahan the following night in Denton, Texas. 

Drag City couldn't confirm whether or not Newsom will join Callahan on the rest of the Smog tour, which continues throughout the coming month. [MORE...]

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)