Islands' Thorburn + Jim Guthrie = Human Highway
"Hot man-on-man vocal action."

Islands songwriter/frontman Nick Thorburn now has another name to add to a musical oeuvre that includes his main band, Th' Corn Gangg, Juiced Elfers, and Reefer (not to mention his previous work in the Unicorns).

The new group is called Human Highway, and it's a duo consisting of Thorburn and fellow Canadian songwriter Jim Guthrie. Guthrie is the man responsible for 2003's quite nice Now, More Than Ever.

Moody Motorcycle is Human Highway's debut album, and it was crafted in a week of sleeping and recording on Guthrie's couch in downtown Toronto. Thorburn told ChartAttack.com, "the Human Highway album is gentle, like lullaby-type stuff. We're really inspired by Everly Brothers harmonies, singing. And Jim is just such an amazing singer... It's really low-key, just like good times."

A press release describes the group's music as "a sound reminiscent to that of 50s/60s soul and doo-wop." Guthrie says that the album features "hot man-on-man vocal action."

Suicide Squeeze will release Moody Motorcycle in the U.S. on August 19. Secret City will release the album in Canada on the same date.

Islands' Arm's Way comes out May 20 via Anti-, and the band has a big tour going on right now. [MORE...]

My Bloody Valentine Lead Unfuckingbelievable Lineup for New York All Tomorrow's Parties Fest
Tortoise doing Millions Now Living Will Never Die! Built to Spill doing Perfect From Now On! Thurston Moore doing Psychic Hearts! Meat Puppets doing Meat Puppets II!

Oh. My. Lord. Where to start?

On the weekend of September 19-21, My Bloody Valentine will perform in the United States for the first time in 16 years. The occasion? ATP New York, the new American branch of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. It will take place at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York.

And... jesus... as if a My Bloody Valentine headlining set wasn't enough, ATP New York unveiled just the beginning of its completely astounding 30-act lineup, curated by both MBV and ATP:

My Bloody Valentine
Built to Spill performing Perfect From Now On
Meat Puppets performing Meat Puppets II
Thurston Moore performing Psychic Hearts
Tortoise performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Shellac
Mogwai
Polvo
Fuck Buttons
Autolux
The Drones
Low
Wooden Shjips
Edan with Dagha
Thee Silver Mount Zion Orchestra

I think I just peed myself.

In keeping with the spirit of the British ATPs, ATP New York is really, really small. As in, only 3000 people get to go. And you all live on the site for three days, staying in motel and hotel rooms. No single day passes will be available. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 25, at the ATP website.

Kraftwerk Drama: Alleged Beef With Kling Klang, Florian Schneider Missing From U.S. Tour

Klingklang is the name of the studio German krautrock icons Kraftwerk have operated out of for more than three decades, as well as the name of the quartet's publishing and merchandise companies (and one of their tunes, too).

Kling Klang are a group of krautrock-indebted music-makers from Liverpool who are signed to Mogwai's Rock Action label and who are opening for Portishead on their current European tour.

Both, when translated into English from the German idiom, more or less mean "ding dong."

Kraftwerk's love for their Klingklang is notorious; as, we suspect, is Kling Klang's love for their band name of nearly a decade. The two entities had coexisted peacefully since the British band's inception in the late 1990s. That is, until now.

Allegedly, Kraftwerk have issued a cease and desist order against Kling Klang, claiming trademark infringement. A statement thought to have been circulated on Kling Klang's behalf regarding the matter made the rounds on the internet prematurely, and it wasn't until late last week that Kling Klang posted an official dispatch on the on their MySpace. (The full text of the statement can be read after the jump.)

Kraftwerk, however, could not be reached for comment. Thus, all we know of the situation thus far comes from Kling Klang's side. Kraftwerk has not confirmed that they did, in fact, issue a cease and desist. Perhaps this is all an elaborate prank? We hope so.

In other Kraftwerk news, over the weekend, many readers emailed Pitchfork News expressing surprise that founding member Florian Schneider was not in attendance at the group's shows in Minneapolis on Saturday and Milwaukee on Sunday. It turns out Schneider will be absent from the entirety of Kraftwerk's current U.S. trek, including their performance at Coachella on April 26. A replacement is filling in for him. No explanation has been given for Schneider's absence. [MORE...]

Frightened Rabbit Tour Both Sides of the Pond

Wounds dressed from their recent Recommended Midnight Organ Fight LP, Glasgow's Frightened Rabbit are ready for round two. The quartet has a run of European gigs currently in progress, highlighted by the very tantalizing FatCat Records birthday bash May 17 in Brighton, England. They'll hit the States later on in the month, with those French Kicks in tow most of the way.

They'll also play Chicago twice in a week's time, much to the delight of the region's senior news editors. [MORE...]

Arcade Fire Plan Obama Shows With Superchunk!

Photo by Drew Angerer

Given how amazing these gigs turned out, who wouldn't want another round of Arcade Fire rallies for presidential hopeful Barack Obama? And with the North Carolina Democratic primary looming on May 6, that's just what we'll get.

After big-upping a recent Jay Reatard performance (not all Canadians hate him, see?) in a message posted to his web "scrapbook", Arcade Fire frontguy Win Butler writes, "Speaking of a high energy band with great melodies, we might be playing a couple of free outdoor shows in North Carolina for the Obama campaign with SUPERCHUNK!!! How cool would that be!"

How cool ain't the half of it, brother! And cooler still is that it is indeed happening. According to Merge, the Arcade Fire and Superchunk will link up in early May for a pair of afternoon Obama Early Vote Rally performances: May 1 at Greensboro's Coliseum Complex Pavilion Parking Lot, and May 2 at Carrboro's Town Commons. Free tickets are required for the gigs, both of which begin at 2 p.m. More info can be found here. Biking, walking, car-pooling, and public transportation are encouraged!

And hmm, a quick look at fellow Obama-backer Bruce Springsteen's calendar reveals the Boss will in fact be hanging along the Atlantic Seaboard in late April. Wouldn't hurt to stick around just a few more days, eh Bruce? Eh?? [MORE...]

Tegan and Sara Serve Up Live EP, Add Dates

Recorded in San Francisco on the last day of their previous tour, Tegan and Sara's iTunes Live Session EP gathers four acoustic takes on tracks from last year's fine The Con LP and one from 2004's So Jealous. The set is due at a certain digital music retailer April 29.

But there are plenty more live sessions from the Quin twins on the bubble. Their previously-reported tour kicked off a little while back, and they're up in Santa Cruz tonight with this weekend's Coachella quickly approaching.

Before that happens, they'll appear on the "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" Wednesday (April 23). And they've recently added a few dates, including gigs on that tolerance-forward True Colors tour with the B-52's, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Regina Spektor, Cyndi Lauper, and others. [MORE...]

Burial to Craft Next DJ-Kicks Mix

Add this tidbit to the maddeningly short list of things we know about dubstep auteur Burial: he's next in line to craft one of those DJ-Kicks compilations. And he's in good company, as past contributors include Hot Chip, Booka Shade, Four Tet, and Annie.

According to a press release, young B "may treat his dearest dubstep, techno and even r&b tracks with his unique production style before mixing them with exclusive material." Of course, we don't know just what he'll be "treating" at the moment, as the tracklist hasn't been released yet. But that secrecy is in no way surprising considering the source.

The set is due from !K7 on CD and 2LP; it hits European shelves on June 23, and the States July 8.

And, hey, lookee here, Burial's touring! [MORE...]

Nellie McKay Scores Election Musical, Plans Shows

Before there was Election the darkly funny flick starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, there was Election the acclaimed novel, penned by one Tom Perrotta (whose Little Children also became a big film). And after Election the darkly funny flick there will be Election the Broadway musical, also based upon the book and set to feature a score dreamt up by none other than Nellie McKay-- who could probably out-Tracy Flick even Witherspoon when it comes to those gratingly ingratiating smiles (and genuine ones too).

But despite her previous Broadway experience, Nellie won't be starring in the musical (as far as we know), only writing the tunes. Not much else is known about Election the musical at this time other than that, as a press release cheekily puts it, the show will open "before 2050."

Long before 2050, however, McKay will attend to her fans on both coasts with a few live engagements, including a benefit for the Riverkeeper organization with another Broadway songwriter, David Yazbek (The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Three guesses where we're hiding the info about those dates. [MORE...]

!!!, Yeasayer, No Age Play Free Yr Radio Series
Also: White Williams, Mudhoney

Did you know that, just like Prodigy and Darko, your radio needs freeing? No Age, Yeasayer, White Williams, !!!, and Mudhoney sure do, as each band will take part in 2008's Free Yr Radio concert series to prove it.

Now in its second year, Free Yr Radio is a campaign put on by Yaris and Urban Outfitters to increase support for independent radio stations. In addition to a compilation that benefits the program's partner stations, as well as Yaris cars being given away for fundraisers, Free Yr Radio will also host a series of free concerts to raise awareness.

10 shows will take place from May through October, mostly at Urban Outfitters locations, featuring the aforementioned artists and others still to be announced. Though each show is free, attendees must present an invite to get in. For invites and the specific details of each show, visit FreeYrRadio.com.

Stations benefiting from Free Yr Radio this year include KEXP in Seattle, KRCL in Salt Lake City, KUSF in San Francisco, OHIO.FM in Columbus, the Current in Minneapolis/St. Paul, WERS in Boston, WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey, and WVUM in Miami.

For the current schedule, make that jump. [MORE...]

Ladyhawk Hit the Road With Neva Dinova

Photo by Scott August

Earlier this year, Vancouver's Ladyhawk issued Shots, their second proper boozy platter, on Jagjaguwar. And what goes best with a platter of Canadian shots, you ask? Mrs. Clinton has her own theories, but for Ladyhawk, it's tour dates, and plenty of 'em.

The band will head to the States beginning tonight (April 22) for the first of a bunch of gigs, many shared with Neva Dinova. They also plan to hit a few homeland haunts in mid-June with Constantines once all that's wrapped up. [MORE...]

The Cinematic Orchestra Deliver Live Album, Plan Gigs

Downtempo electronic/jazz outfit the Cinematic Orchestra released their first live album in the U.S. today (April 22) via Domino.

Live at the Royal Albert Hall chronicles the collective's November 2, 2007 show at the historic titular venue. In addition to the contributions of leader Jason Swinscoe and his regular collaborators, the show featured performances from Heidi Vogel, Lou Rhodes, Grey Reverend, original Orchestra turntablist PC, and the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra, making for a stage filled with upwards of 40 musicians at some points.

The songs on Live at the Royal Albert Hall come from last year's Ma Fleur and 2002's Every Day.

As for current live Cinematic Orchestra engagements, the band has precious few of those on the schedule right now. The next goes down tonight in New York City. [MORE...]

Conor Oberst Cuts Solo Album for Merge Records
Lines up fest dates with the Mystic Valley Band

Photo by Paparazzi by Appointment

For those who recall scouring eBay for $100+ copies of that holy trinity of early Conor Oberst cassettes (not me, I swear)-- 1993's Water, 1994's Here's to Special Treatment, and 1995's The Soundtrack to My Movie-- August 4, 2008 will mark a particularly special occasion. For it is on that special day that the Bright Eye'd troubadour will release a very special album, his first solo offering in some 13 years. That's like half an Oberst lifetime!

The self-titled affair contains a dozen tracks and comes at us courtesy of-- no, not Saddle Creek...nope, not Team Love either...and heavens no, not a major-- but rather Merge Records, home to longtime Oberst buddy M. Ward and something I keep hearing about called the Arcade Fire, whatever that is.

Oberst laid Conor Oberst to tape in Mexico earlier this year with help from his pal Andy LeMaster (Now It's Overhead) and a "special band" known as the Mystic Valley Band. If that sounds familiar, perhaps you noticed Conor and the Mystic Valley Band among the Austin City Limits elite or caught them live at the tail end of 2007. The new crew has also announced a couple more festival appearances in the months to come, with the promise of a tour "throughout the summer."

Oh boy, can't wait to hear "Souled Out!!!"! [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.)