Simoneau GuillaumeI first made the acquaintance of Iowa native and Montreal resident Laurel Sprengelmeyer’s stage persona Little Scream almost exactly two years ago, when she opened up for Land Of Talk at The Horseshoe. At the time, she had no web presence whatsoever – not a website, not a Myspace, nothing – but her solo electrified acoustic performance made enough of an impression to stick with me.

Enough so that I made sure to see her again a couple months later during Canadian Musicfest and while she still hadn’t discovered the internet – my previous review seemed to be the authoritative statement about her online – was able to see that while her sound had gotten more electrified thanks to picking up a solidbody guitar, her distinctive approach to folk and rock – but not folk-rock – was still inscrutable and compelling. And I figured that her being relatively local and obviously up for gigging, I’d be getting plenty of opportunity to figure out what she was about.

Or not so much. Though I’m sure she showed up on more Toronto stages over the last couple years, she basically fell off my radar until just recently when she began showing up in concert announcements – a lot of concert announcements. Over the next few months, she’s touring Ontario with Julie Doiron including February 3 at the Horseshoe, returning for Canadian Musicfest at the Opera House on March 11 with Land Of Talk and then traversing the United States with Sharon Van Etten, including her April 12 date at the Drake Underground. Which is to say she’s no longer going to be out of sight, out of mind but rather constantly underfoot.

And the reason is the impending elease of her debut album The Golden Record on Secretly Canadian in the US and Outside Music in Canada, which features production from Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Perry and guitar contributions from The National’s Aaron Dessner, amongst other high-profile contributors. Which is to say Little Scream has made some impressive friends. The record is out on April 12, which makes that Drake show a record release party, and while the first MP3 is a good deal gentler than I’d have expected from those early live shows, the additional samples on her Facebook (she’s certainly got an online presence now) point at a lot more range being captured on the record, to say nothing of the intensity I saw back in 2009. In other words, this is a record that will be worth hearing, start to finish, because if you don’t you’ll likely have missed something crucial.

MP3: Little Scream – “The Heron & The Fox”

Those Who Dig has an interview with Sharon Van Etten who, as mentioned above, will be at The Drake Underground on April 12.

Nicole Atkins discusses her new record Mondo Amore with Knox Road. The album is out February 8 and she plays The Horseshoe on February 26.

Spinner and The Montreal Mirror talk to Lisa Milberg of The Concretes; they’re at The Horseshoe on Monday night, January 17.

Pitchfork and Clash talk to PJ Harvey about her new record Let England Shake, due out February 15.

The Ottawa Citizen profiles Two Door Cinema Club, in town at the Kool Haus tomorrow night, while The State is streaming a documentary feature on the band. And the band’s new video ably demonstrates the perks of being a young man in a rock band… which is to say dancing girls.

Video: Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know”

It would have been nice if British Sea Power could have announced their North American tour in support of Valhalla Dancehall a couple days earlier so I could have included it with my review of said record, but that’s not so important – what is is that the British are coming and they’ll be at Lee’s Palace on March 24. Incendiary has an interview with Martin Noble while The Guardian has a live session video of the band performing “Who’s In Control?”.

MP3: British Sea Power – “Who’s In Control?”

Patrick Wolf talks to NME about the cleanliness of his in-progress new record, which despite what they say is unlikely to be called The Conqueror but will likely to be out in May.

The Fly checks in with Glasvegas and Elbow amongst others about their 2011 album plans. The former’s build a rocket boys! will be out March 8 while NME reports the latter’s Euphoric Heartbreak will be out April 4.

Condolences to the friends, fans and family of Broadcast’s Trish Keenan, who has passed away from pneumonia. The statement from Warp Records.

PitchforkBroadcast are a band whom I’ve not really kept up with since their 2000 debut The Noise Made By People, though I’m aware that they’ve downsized considerably since that album and now exist mainly as the duo of Trish Keenan and James Cargill. Similarly, Deerhunter are a band whom, on paper, I should adore but the little I’ve heard from them appeals superficially but has yet to actually grab my attention and not let go. So I have less to say about Atlas Sound, the solo incarnation of Deerhunter leader Bradford Cox than I do about the main band, which is not a lot.

But I can tell you that Broadcast are releasing a split EP with The Focus Group entitled Broadcast and the Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, out on October 27, and Atlas Sound have a new record entitled Logos out next week. They are also co-headlining a tour which hits Lee’s Palace next Saturday night, October 24. Tickets are $13 in advance but courtesy of Rootmeansquare, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to broadcast sound around the atlas” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, October 21.

MySpace: Broadcast
MySpace: Atlas Sound

Rebecca DrolenIt was a small bright spot and pleasant surprise last week when mail call brought a copy of the new Early Day Miners album, The Treatment. Pleasant because their last album, 2006’s Offshore, was an unexpected epic that turned out to be one of my favourites of the year and surprise because though the band had announced that The Treatment would be coming out this year back in late 2008, more specific information wasn’t forthcoming and I was beginning to assume that it would be pushed back indefinitely. But as it turned out, snail mail actually outpaced electronic mail and the CD got to me a day before the official press release.

Also to file under “surprise” what the CD held. Offshore won my heart and mind with its sprawling and often desolate sonic topology, all slow and brooding and beautiful. It’s a record where the vocals don’t enter until nearly 10 minutes into its running time, so imagine my surprise when I pressed “play” on The Treatment and was met with singing barely one second in. And the reinvention continues throughout the record, with the Bloomington, Indiana outfit having scaled their lineup down to a four-piece and focused on more compact, pop-structured songs. And though it takes some getting used to, initial listens reveal that they can indeed handle the tighter melodies – first MP3 “So Slowly” is a gem – and for those who preferred them for their mopier sentiments, don’t worry – even when you hear them smiling, it’s evident they’re still frowns turned upside down.

Early Day Miners gave a taste of their new direction via a Daytrotter session back in January of 2008, but that was over a year and a half ago. I’d forgotten what they were up to. The new album is due out September 22 and there will be some touring to follow, though mainly in the midwest and nothing up this way.

MP3: Early Day Miners – “So Slowly”
MySpace: Early Day Miners

Funnily, even when the world seems to stop, it doesn’t actually and so all last week local concert announcements kept piling up in my inbox and RSS. And here they are in chronological order.

Do Make Say Think will play the Polish Combatants Hall on August 19 as part of the kick off for the Bicycle Film Festival, which is indeed a clever name for a film festival celebrating bicycles. Tickets for that are $22.

After always playing the billing bridesmaid, New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus are setting out on their first headlining tour this September in support of their debut The Airing Of Grievances and will stop in at the Horseshoe on September 5, tickets $10.50.

MP3: Titus Andronicus – “Titus Andronicus”
Video: Titus Andronicus – “Titus Andronicus”

A Hawk & A Hacksaw have a date at the Drake Underground on September 16, tickets $12.50. Damon & Naomi starting the very next night in Montreal.

That Wavves guy is probably disobeying some doctor’s orders in touring this Fall so catch him/them on September 22 at the El Mocambo and make it worth his/their while. Tickets $13.50.

MP3: Wavves – “So Bored”

And a week later, fellow garage-dwelling San Diegan buzz band The Soft Pack will be across the street for a show at The Silver Dollar on September 29 as part of a Fall tour that will not be in support of their debut full-length, since they’re only starting to record it this month.

MP3: The Soft Pack – “Nightlife”

Long unofficial, the two Built To Spill dates at Lee’s Palace have been confirmed – October 6 and 7, tickets $26.50 – as part of a massive Fall tour. One assumes that their next album There Is No Enemy will be out by then but there’s no release date yet. Doug Martsch talks to Spinner about what you might expect from the new record, though those attending the show may not want to expect to hear the new record.

Sea Wolf’s second album White Water, White Bloom is due out September 22 and, of course, touring will follow with the band accompanied by Port O’Brien and Sara Lov. The Toronto date is October 9 at Sneaky Dee’s. Grab bonus track from White Water, White Bloom at Dangerbird Records.

Mike Doughty is coming to town for three shows over two nights at the Drake Underground. One the eve of October 10 and two on the 11th, one early one late. $25 for each.

Video: Mike Doughty – “27 Jennifers”

The Gossip are hitting the road in support of their new album Music For Men, including an October 14 date at the Opera House in Toronto. Beth Ditto tells Spinner she’s a big nerd.

Video: The Gossip – “Heavy Cross”
Video: The Gossip – “Love Long Distance”

And if that’s not your speed, that same evening finds Alaska’s Portugal. The Man at the Horseshoe promoting their latest, The Satanic Satanist. Aquarium Drunkard talks to John Gourley about growing up in Alaska while The Minnesota Daily and Time Out New York also have interviews.

MP3: Portugal. The Man – “People Say”

Lucero were just here back in April – with Titus Andronicus, actually – but will be putting out their major-label debut 1372 Overton Park on October 6 and hitting the road to support, of course, including an October 20 date at Lee’s Palace. Tickets for that are $16.50.

MP3: Lucero – “What Else Would You Have Me Be”

El Perro Del Mar will release her new album Love Is Not Pop on October 20 and tour as support for Peter Bjorn & John, presumably including their November 11 date at the Phoenix. NME has album details.

Broadcast and Atlas Sound have opted to split gas money this Fall as co-headliners and will be at Lee’s Palace on October 24. The former will be putting out a split EP with The Focus Group on October 13 while the latter’s new album Logos is out October 20.

Julie Doiron has an October 27 date at Lee’s Palace and has invited Herman Dune along for the show. Tickets are $13.50.

MP3: Julie Doiron – “When Brakes Get Wet”
MP3: Julie Doiron – “Consolation Prize”

And finally, the Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop half of Travis are doing an acoustic tour this Fall, which includes an October 30 date at the Mod Club, tickets $29.50.

I think that’s enough for today – it’s a holiday after all. And I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who offered condolences and kind words last week in the wake of my father’s passing. I was more than a little floored by the support, and on behalf of myself and my family, say thanks for the well wishes. It was a tough, tough week but we’re doing alright.