Friends. I've been away for the past week staring at a lone stretch of beach, in between walking through wind farms and blowholes. Not a metaphor. Thanks to Dan Rule, Tom Hawking, Andrew McMillen and Doug Wallen for keeping the Vine Music flag waving in my absence. Here's an attempt to do some catching up:

Arcade Fire have been holed up in their church studio in Montreal clasping hands, burning figs and chanting ancient Celtic folk songs - maybe - for the last year or so, working on the follow up to 2007s Neon Bible. This is good news. Arcade Fire are exciting. I really like Spoon, for example. When Spoon supported Arcade Fire at their first show in Melbourne in early 2008, I could have been watching Good News Week for all my fidgety level of interest. (Which sucks, because as it turns out, Spoon's Australian booking agent "doesn't want the band to play more than once per album" here in Australia, according to the band themselves. Lame.)

In any case, Arcade Fire have a bunch of European tour dates lined up for July and August, where the plan is to play new stuff. Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist Will Butler has sent a postcard to the NME (see main pic) for some reason, saying that "We're really looking forward to playing the new songs live," and that he "like an inventor emerging from his basement after a year's work". Stay tuned for a YouTube frenzy in July.

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Modest Mouse are appearing at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK. Recent Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr didn't know. (NME).

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This is funny:



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Erykah Badu has posted a controversial new filmclip for the track 'Window Seat', in which the singer gets completely naked and walks through the streets of Dallas, in an apparent reference to the JFK assassination. The stunt was inspired by the Matt & Kim video for 'Lessons Learned', and features some heavy handed dialogue at the end about freedom of expression and whatnot. Which is all completely undermined by the pixels protecting the singer's modesty. Watch it at erykahbadu.com

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Space Invadas have been added to the Groovin' The Moo lineup.

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La Roux are in the country right now playing the Barcardi Express tour. According to an Elly Jackson interview with AAP, a lighting rig fell on stage during their performance in Perth, nearly killing one of their keyboard players. (The Age)

"(We had) a bit of a challenging gig in Perth, with the lights collapsing and nearly killing one of our keyboard players - it was quite full of drama. We haven't had anything like that happen before, so it was quite strange and worrying for a moment. Obviously we all laughed about it afterwards, but it was quite intense."

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Everyone's been talking up female US four-piece Warpaint at SXSW this year. Songs like this seem great:


Warpaint - 'Stars'

Their MySpace postings less so:
If you really knew how much you were loved, you would never cry again. A sublime relaxation would flood your nervous system, freeing you to see the beautiful secrets that your chronic fear has hidden from you. If you knew how much the world longs for your genius to bloom in its full glory, the peace that filled you would ensure you could not fail. You'd face every trial with eager equanimity. You would always know exactly what to do because your intuition would tell you in a myriad of subtle ways. 

you are free

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The Temper Trap have reportedly sold out their Melbourne show at Festival Hall in just one day.

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Naboo from the Mighty Boosh is doing a DJ tour of Australia in March. For what that's worth:

Friday 21 May – Sosueme @ Qbar, Sydney
Saturday 22 May – Lick It @ The Zoo
Sun 23rd May – Dirty Sunday @ Titanium Bar, Gold Coast
Friday 28 May – The Espy, Melbourne
Saturday 29th May – Knowledge @ Shape, Perth

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MGMT are playing a one off show as guests of Richard Branson in Sydney next Tuesday. You already knew this though 'cause tickets have sold out. We'll be bringing you a review and photos from the night, as well as the NEW VIDEO for 'Flash Delirium' after 3pm today.

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Stunning Vine reader Carlie Bryce read our review of the Soundwave festival in Brisbane - you know the one where Mike Patton supposedly shoved his junk in a cameraman's lense - and decided to send us proof. Thanks. Maybe.

 Avert your eyes:



In related Patton news, he's releasing an Italian language album of covers. You know, such as "The Blackmen’s Urlo Negro, a late 60’s song about the Civil Rights struggle, to Gino Paoli’s Senza Fine, made famous by Connie Francis, and on to Patton’s beloved Morricone who penned Deep Down for the film Danger: Diabolik in 1968." The album "marries his instrument-like voice with a 40-piece orchestra, choir and band." Of course it does. Mondo Cane is out May 7th.

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The Dead Weather were here last week promoting their excellent debut Horehound. (Read our review).  While in the country they went and announced the follow up, Sea of Cowards. Which judging from the new songs we heard - as well as the cover art (see below) - is going to be a little more METAL:




And here's the first single, 'Die By The Drop':


The Dead Weather - 'Die by the Drop' full length teaser