Following up 2008’s wildly underrated Some Are Lakes LP, Montreal’s Land of Talk returns this August with its second full-length, entitled Cloak and Cipher. The album was produced by the Besnard Lakes’ Jase Lacek and features a host of guests, ranging from members of Arcade Fire, A Silver Mt. Zion, Stars, and Esmerine. The album is due out August 24th, once again, via Saddle Creek.

Cloak and Cipher:

1. “Cloak and Cipher”
2. “Goaltime Exposure”
3. “Quarry Hymns”
4. “Swift Coin”
5. “Color Me Badd”
6. “The Hate I Won’t Commit”
7. “Hamburg, Noon”
8. “Blangee Blee”
9. “Playita”
10. “Better and Closer”

Tour dates:

5/28 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
5/29 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*
5/30 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bears*
5/31 Portland, ME – Space Gallery
7/1 Montreal, QC – Club Soda (Festival International de Jazz de Montreal)
7/18 Quebec City, QC – Festival d’été de Québec

* with the Besnard Lakes

Woke up with this in my head.

Been meaning to share this great track from DC locals Screen Vinyl Image.

I’ve never really considered myself a Deftones fan, although I’ve never actively disliked them either, mainly because I have often been intrigued, if not even wholly impressed, by a few of their cover choices over the years.

They’ve re-stylized Duran Duran’s moody masterpiece, “The Chauffeur”:

And Sade’s “No Ordinary Love”:

Both covers are faithful yet heavily emphasize the darker aspects of each song. The deluxe edition of the band’s new album Diamond Eyes on iTunes features yet another cover, which has completely blown my mind. Showing immaculate taste, Deftones try their hand at Drive Like Jehu’s “Caress” off that legendary band’s self-titled debut. This isn’t just your run-of-the-mill-do-it-justice type cover, either. Deftones completely tear this song to shreds, capturing the impossibly frenetic energy of the original, while somehow rocking the bejesus out of it. I am beyond impressed. Stream it over at Buzznet. It is amazing.

With all the excitement and success of Blur’s limited Record Store Day release, “Fool’s Day”, lead singer Damon Albarn has confirmed that the band is “definitely going to do a few more of those seven-inches.” Fans waiting for a new album shouldn’t get their hopes up, however, as Albarn is tied up with Gorillaz duties for the foreseeable future. He told NME, “We can’t do it all the time. So I don’t want anyone to think there’s an album coming soon, it’s not possible, but we’ve got songs!” A few more seven-inches of the caliber of “Fool’s Day” should satiate fans, especially when considering the length of the band’s dry spell prior to Record Store Day.

Since only 1000 people got their hands on the physical release of “Fool’s Day”, the band has allowed it to be readily available online:

Not two weeks after a mysterious, late night mp3 release, Interpol has revealed some unfortunate news. Bassist Carlos Dengler has quit the band. Interpol posted the following statement on its website:

Dear fans,

As some of you have surely heard, Interpol has completed it’s new album.

It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York, and mixed with Alan Moulder at Assault and Battery, London.

The four of us poured our collective heart into this music and we are very proud and excited to share it.

It’s a heavy record. But we’re feeling limber; and we’re going to carry it all around the world for you.

Touring begins this summer, so check here soon for announcements and show dates.

There is more:
Sadly, Carlos will not be joining us.

After the completion of the album, Carlos informed the rest of us that he would be leaving the band. He has decided to follow another path, and to pursue new goals. This separation is amicable, and we whole-heartedly wish him great happiness and success. We will remain, as always, deeply respectful fans of this blazingly talented individual.

We can tell you that we have some very exciting new recruits joining us on the road. So stay tuned – we will promptly be revealing the identities of these illustrious players.

We eagerly await the opportunity to reconvene with you all
– the greatest fans known to Rock.

Thank you.
Interpol

I’m not a big fan of replacing band members, particularly ones that are so integral to the core sound as Mr. Dengler was. There are always exceptions, though. I understand that Interpol feels the need to tour the new record, but any future releases would just seem odd without him.