Simian Mobile Disco Release Yet Another EP

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

The dudes of Simian Mobile Disco sure love them some EPs. And now, they can add an iTunes-only entry to a collection that includes last year's Simian Mobile Disco and the forthcoming Clock.

The duo's Live From SoHo EP hit iTunes today, and it includes tracks like "Hustler", "Tits & Acid", "It's the Beat", and SMD's remix of the Go! Team's "Ladyflash", all mixed live at NYC's SoHo Apple Store.

Of course, SMD have plenty of non-recorded (yet) live dates ahead of them as well, starting with a show tomorrow (February 6) in Leeds. [MORE...]

Tickley Feather Signs to Paw Tracks for Debut LP

Photo by Kimber Vansant

Tickley Feather has signed to Paw Tracks-- label home to Panda Bear, Black Dice, and Excepter-- for the release of her debut album on April 28 in the UK and April 29 Stateside. Tickley Feather is the nom de musique of Philadelphia four-track enthusiast Annie Sachs, and the album is called simply Tickley Feather.

Badmaster Records will release the vinyl version of the album on April 2.

For now, Sachs has a single tour date scheduled in pre-emptive support of the record. The show is tomorrow night, February 6, at Philly's Silk City. [MORE...]

White Stripes Sued for Sample Used Eight Years Ago

A long time ago (the year 2000) in the far, far away land of Detroit, Michigan, the White Stripes released an album called De Stijl. It was the duo's second full-length release, and while it earned some praise, it's still probably best known as the album that came before the Stripes' 2001 breakout smash White Blood Cells.

Buried amid the furrows of the De Stijl LP and within the rainbows on the CD is a tune called "Jumble, Jumble", track number 11. And found among the less than two minutes of recorded sound on said track are 10 sampled seconds-- 10 seconds which may end up costing the Stripes $70,000.

According to a Canadian Press report, former Quebec radio host and current university lecturer Dominique Payette alleges the above-mentioned sample is taken from her radio show and was used without permission. She insists her privacy has been violated and is suing the band, Third Man Records, and BMG Music Publishing Canada for the above-mentioned amount. What's more, she's seeking an injunction that, if granted, would force the Stripes to remove De Stijl from stores.

The fuzzy sample in question apparently features Payette exchanging a few words in French with a girl during the call-in portion of Payette's radio show. Listen for yourself here [via Cyberpress.ca].

Payette claims to have become aware of the sample in March 2007, hence this lawsuit some eight years after the fact (to say nothing of the dubious notion of "privacy" on a public radio program). No word yet from the Stripes on the matter, but hopefully all the love they showed Canada last summer will afford them some karma points here.

Many thanks to reader Frédéric Tremblay for the tip.

We'll assume Nigel Godrich got the Stripes' permission when he filmed them for his "From the Basement" web/television show. Americans with high definition satellite TV can catch Meg and Jack, as previously reported, on Rave HD February 22.

Tapes 'n Tapes Hit the Road to Walk It Off

Talking it over? Done and done. Walk(ing) It Off? Not 'til April 8, when the new album comes out on XL. But when oh when will Tapes 'n Tapes take to the stages of North America to properly rock it out? All in due time.

Following a sweaty stint down there among the nerderati at South by Southwest, Tapes 'n Tapes will hit the road for a five-week tour, which kicks off April 10 at their home city's famed First Avenue. They'll be joined on all of their non-SXSW gigs by Texan trio White Denim.

In a MySpace bulletin posted today, the band promises three secret shows on two different continents to be announced (possibly on very short notice) in the coming months. "Think about that one for a minute," the bulletin implores. Don't think about it much longer than that, we urge.

Oh, and you see that up there? That's the cover art for Walk It Off. Did you know Tapes 'n Tapes did the "color scheme" thing? Us either! [MORE...]

Calvin Johnson Schedules Winter Tour
Tourmates include Mahjongg, Karl Blau, So Many Dynamos, These Are Powers

K Records founder and cute music maestro Calvin Johnson will make the rounds once again on a U.S. tour that will fill up the month of February.

Joining Johnson on various dates of the tour are fellow K artists Karl Blau and Mahjongg, as well as So Many Dynamos, Mark Robinson (Unrest), Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me), and These Are Powers.

Speaking of Mr. Blau, the man's Phil Elverum-boosted latest full-length, AM, arrives March 18 on Whistler Records, as previously mentioned. [MORE...]

Public Enemy, Raekwon Do Classics for Don't Look Back
Dr. Octagon, reunited Anti-Pop Consortium open for Public Enemy

Yeah boyeeeee! Once May rolls around, Public Enemy will take their 1988 classic-among-classics It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back to a trio of UK stages as part of All Tomorrow's Parties' Don't Look Back. (As you already know, Don't Look Back is an ongoing series of live performances of classic albums in their entirety.)

In addition to all the cold lampin' and the noise bringin' from the mighty PE, each of the three Nation of Millions UK shows will be bolstered by supporting performances from Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith and Kutmasta Kurt), Edan and MC Dagha, and the reunited Anti-Pop Consortium.

What's more, Raekwon will follow in his Wu-Tang cohort GZA's footsteps in bringing a solo album to the stage as part of Don't Look Back. The Chef will take 1995's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... to London's Koko on May 19. (And then my apartment, right?)

These new events join Sebadoh's performance of Bubble and Scrape (taking place May 7 at Koko) to round out the current schedule of UK Don't Look Backs.

And as you're well aware by now, ATP is doing big things with both Pitchfork and Explosions in the Sky in May as well. [MORE...]

Bright Eyes, M. Ward Rally for Obama

Happy Super Tuesday, Americans! As the Democratic and Republican front-runners duke it out state-by-state for that elusive party nomination and citizens of this fair land puzzle over the complex delegate process, the indie rock political bloc continues to mobilize.

This Thursday, February 7-- not long after the Super Tuesday dust has settled-- Bright Eyes and M. Ward will take to the stage at Omaha's Slowdown to voice their support for their candidate of choice: Senator Barack Obama. This is of course not the first time Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst has sung praises of Obama; the Saddle Creek songsmith previously rocked an Iowa caucus rally back in January.

Joining Bright Eyes and Ward at the Slowdown hoedown are Jim Ward (Sparta, ex-At the Drive-In) and San Francisco's Secret Life of Sparrows.

Should you plan on checking out this free gig, be prepared to put your (metaphorical) money where your mouth is: "You must either register to vote or sign a pledge card in order to get a ticket," according to the Slowdown website, and the free tickets don't necessarily guarantee admission.

Nebraska will hold primaries for both major parties on May 13, 2008 its Democratic caucus on February 9 and its Republican counterpart May 13. Given the incredibly tight races in each camp this election year, votes cast that day those days could very well make a huge difference.

Thanks to reader Matthew Helt for the heads up.

Slits Hit the States on Tour, Cut New EP

Photo by Jen Ray

Primitive post-punkers and lovers of the dub the Slits have lined up a rare tour of the United States in the month of March. Joining the iconic crew for this excursion will be Brooklyn's own Shellshag, while the wonderfully named This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb drop by to stir up some ruckus on a few dates.

Ari Up and her fellow Amazons kick things off March 5 in New York City, swoop down to SXSW mid-month, and ultimately make their way to the ancient, uncharted jungles of Hoboken, New Jersey.

And if you want to buy and need something new, get ready to "Spend, Spend, Spend" at the merch table, as the Slits will have a brand new EP available to satisfy your music consumption needs. Australia's Exo Records will deliver the three-track Hated unto us come March. [MORE...]

Coroner Rules Pimp C's Death Accidental

The Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined an official cause of the untimely December 4 death of Houston rapper Pimp C yesterday (February 4), according to a TMZ.com.

The report cites spokesman Ed Winter as saying that the death was accidental, "a result of a pre-existing condition of sleep apnea combined with an elevated amount of prescription codeine in his blood."

As a member of UGK, Pimp C (born Chad Butler) peppered his lyrics with references to the cough syrup concoction known as "drank," "sizzurp," and "lean," among other names. Unfortunately, this is not the first time a member of the Houston hip-hop community has had a fatal interaction with codeine. DJ Screw (of "Chopped and Screwed" fame) died as the result of an overdose in 2000, and it is suspected that Big Moe's heart attack last year was the result of the same.

Boris Announce Smile Release Date, Single Details
Unveil press photo taken at the sun's core

All set to release Smile, their first non-collaborative album in two years, Japan's mighty Boris have announced the details of the new record's first single.

The 7"-only release will feature Smile track "Statement" with exclusive B-side "Floorshaker". Southern Lord will release the single in a run of 3,000 copies on February 26, and a "Statement" video will also appear sometime this month.

Southern Lord has also given Smile a release date: April 29. There is still no tracklist or tour to speak of, but the trio has a one-off show at the Knitting Factory in New York City on March 4. UPDATE: They are also performing at London's Cargo on February 24.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Announce More Dates

With the March 4 release of Real Emotional Trash a mere month away, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are in a giving mood. First, there was their entry into Matador's "Buy Early Get Now" ranks. Now, it's the announcement of even more dates on their upcoming North American tour.

Most of the new dates come in April and May, after the previously reported ones in March and early April with John Vanderslice. Joining Le Malk and co. for the newly added shows will be Portland homeboys the Joggers.

Thanks to reader Scott Diana for the tip. [MORE...]

National, TVOTR Members Play Brooklyn Next Fest
Also: My Brightest Diamond, Excepter, Travis Morrison

The Brooklyn Academy of Music's Brooklyn Next festival, now in its second year, "celebrates Brooklyn’s groundbreaking diverse music scene." And what a scene it is. When the fest descends upon the New York City borough next month, it will bring with it performances by the National, Travis Morrison Hellfighters, My Brightest Diamond, Excepter, Laura Cantrell, White Rabbits, Favourite Sons, Death Vessel, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Ola Podrida, Effi Briest, DJ Spinna, Takka Takka, Skeletons and Kings of All Cities, Death Vessel, Tony Conrad, Dragons of Zynth, former Del Fuegos lead singer Dan Zanes and friends, as well as a birthday tribute to Johnny Cash and a two-man set from Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio.

And that's hardly the whole lineup. In fact, over the course of February 15-16 and February 20-24, 17 Brooklyn venues will feature more than 175 performances, not to mention a few art exhibits and workshops.

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.)