There’s been a dearth of Mojave 3 news to report this year, but thankfully that drought appears to be ending. Neil Halstead has provided Mojave3online.com with a sneak preview MP3 from what will be the new M3 album, due out hopefully around March of next year. Says Neil:

“Trk is called “Big star baby” and will be on the new record. The version I’m sending is a rough version of the tune and is really a moniter mix, but we hope you like it

The record is coming on good now. We have got Victor Van Vugt to mix the record for us. He’s worked with Beth Orton, Nick Cave and a few others. The mixes he’s done so far sound awesome ( he hasn’t mixed big star yet)…way better than the mixes we were doing..were having a few problems in the studio in cornwall. There was a mouse invasion over the summer and we never quite recovered”.

Seeing as how it’s still an early mix, it’s probably premature to review the track in too great depth, but it’s a compact, jaunty number that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Out Of Tune – it’s certainly poppier than your typical Mojave 3 track. Have a listen:

MP3: Mojave 3 – “Big Star Baby (demo)”

The only other bits of remotely M3-related content I can add is a reminder that the Slowdive reissues are out in a couple weeks, on November 14.

The New Pornographers wrapped up their Twin Cinema tour last week with a bang – literally. Bassist John Collins’ appendix burst after the show in Chicago, necessitating the cancellation of the last couple shows of the tour in Minneapolis and Madison. There is a pre-appendicitis piece on the band at the The Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Bugmenot) and Glide also has a feature story.

Okkervil River’s Will Sheff insists to NOW that he’s not the black sheep boy. Really. Go see Okkervil River at Lee’s on Monday. The Torontoist week in shows thus decrees. So far, none of the other local rags have given Okkervil any love. Fools, fools!

Here are the photos from Tuesday night’s Spoon/Mary Timony show. And as a reward for waiting, check out some Gimme Fiction videos, including the new one for “Sister Jack” which SF Weekly pans in their piece on indie rock videos available around the internet. You know, some links would have been helpful. Jerks.

Tilly & The Wall are currently in the studio recording their follow-up to Wild Like Children… and they’re blogging the experience.

Being There looks at the immeasureable influence of Bob Dylan, including a look at his peers, forbears and followers.

The Pitch gives a shout-out to my MP3 of the week feature. Thanks!

np – Rob Dickinson / Fresh Wine For The Horses