RZA Reveals New Bobby Digital Album, Tour

And you thought all that stuff he did on 8 Diagrams was weird. RZA-- brilliantly blunted Wu-Tang Clan maestro or "hip hop hippie," depending on just who you're talking to-- is back with Digi Snax, yet another slice of robotic, futuristic mind funk under his Bobby Digital moniker. The album is due July 1 from Koch, though its first single, the Inspectah Deck-lacked "You Can't Stop Me Now", hit the internet (and, of course, that Forkcast over there) a few weeks back.

RZA's got big plans to hit the touring circuit in support of Digi Snax this summer, backed on his June and July dates by Wu-Tang associates Stone Mecca (who appear on Digi Snax and have their own LP, First Contact, due June 10 from Touch the Music Records). He'll slice through Los Angeles this weekend before heading to the UK later in the month.

Of course, RZA is never only working on just one thing at any given moment. He's set to appear in the forthcoming film Repossession Mambo, starring Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, and Liev Schreiber, and is working on another season of Afro Samurai.

As for the Wu, they're playing at Harvard on April 18.

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Rob Lowe (Lichens) Issues Art Book/CD on Thrill Jockey
Lowe's Singer to tour this spring

For the third installment in their series joining art books with original music, Chicago's own Thrill Jockey Records have kept things local. Robert A.A. Lowe-- aka Rob Lowe, once of 90 Day Men and now of Lichens and Singer-- has teamed with Chicago designer Rose Lazar to create Gyromancy.

The 4"x6" "perfect bound" book collects artwork from both Lowe and Lazar. It comes accompanied by a 3" CD featuring a single track entitled "Psygning Off", composed entirely and organically by Lowe at his home in an effort to create synergy between the words and music. The limited edition set will be available April 8, and 100 extra special copies will be "hand-crafted" by Lowe and Lazar.

Lowe's Singer, who recently issued their debut on Drag City, are set to embark on a tour later this month, kicking off April 18 in Grinnell, Iowa. Those dates are available for your looking pleasure after the jump. [MORE...]

Neva Dinova Cut Saddle Creek LP, Tour With Ladyhawk

Neva Dinova is named after frontman Jake Bellows' grandmother, and the Nebraska five-piece's third LP, You May Already Be Dreaming, was put to tape in the corner of an Omaha warehouse-- which makes them a pretty much perfect addition to the homely Saddle Creek roster.

Saddle Creek geeks will already recognize Neva Dinova, however, as the act that split that Crank! Records EP One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels with Bright Eyes way back in 2004. Get to know them even better when Dreaming arrives April 8 on CD, LP, and digitally from Saddle Creek.

Neva Dinova, have you met Canadian trad-rockers Ladyhawk? Not to be confused with your Saddle Creek labelmates Ladyfinger (ne)? Great. Now tour around the U.S. together this spring. [MORE...]

See a Ghost? Must Be the New Black Angels LP
Black Angels sign to Interscope imprint Suretone for releases after this one

Better start brooding now-- you've only got a few more weeks until the new Black Angels LP drops, and you wouldn't want them to catch you smilin'. On May 13, the Austin, Texas done merchants will swoop down and lay a brand new slab of dimly-lit, electrically-charged rock'n'roll by the name of Directions to See a Ghost on us, with a little help from Light in the Attic Records. The follow-up to 2006's Passover finds the band once again churning it out with producer Erik Wofford.

If you're itching to hear the choirs of Angels for yourself sooner than mid-May, Light in the Attic have quite a little deal for you. Starting April 15, go to your local record shop to purchase a download code which will let you have at the album more than a month in advance. Drop back by the same shop on or after May 13 and you'll be handed a copy of the CD plus a four-song bonus EP.

Though Light in the Attic may be doling out these Directions, Angels recently signed to Interscope imprint Suretone, home to the Cure, Angels & Airwaves, Chris Cornell, and others. They'll be putting out future Black Angels releases.

Tour dates for these Angels are falling into place, with a few scattered North American dates surrounding a May UK run highlighted by their appearance at the ATP vs. Pitchfork soirée, and then a full tour with like-minded psychedeliks the Warlocks this summer. [MORE...]

Autechre Kick Off North American Tour Tonight

Tonight in Los Angeles, Rob Brown and Sean Booth-- the human analogs who comprise Autechre-- will hit the stage at Los Angeles' Echoplex on the first of a dozen all-too-rare North American tour dates.

The British IDM innovators, as you may know, have lined up said dates this month in support of their recently-released Quaristice LP. Once this particular run wraps in D.C. on the 17th, the pair have plans to head to Japan for a couple new dates. [MORE...]

YLT, B&S;, Kimya Dawson on Second Juno Soundtrack

Though the movie only converted one of its four Oscar nominations into a win, we should have known better than to assume that would stop the Juno juggernaut. The twee-beast's newest tentacle is a second soundtrack of sorts, this one featuring tracks from Yo La Tengo, Belle & Sebastian, Kimya Dawson, Astrud Gilberto, Buddy Holly, and the movie's star, Ellen Page, playing a song written by Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody.

Titled Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs, the Rhino release is a digital-only compilation of songs intended for but not used in the movie. Director Jason Reitman assembled the compilation, which will debut with an iTunes-exclusive release on April 8 before making its way to other digital retailers on May 13.

Juno fans can also look forward to the movie's DVD release on April 15.

Juno B-Sides won't be this year's only showcase for new Kimya Dawson tunes, by the way. According to a Billboard.com report, the cutesy songwriter has written an album of children's songs she hopes to release in August called... Alphabutt. Get it? Because it's for kids, who need to learn the alphabet but also really like to talk about butts! Dawson's collaborators on, um, Alphabutt include former Third Eye Blind guitarist Kevin Cadogan, as well as some of her friends and their children. If you're hungry for song titles, here's your feast: "The Alphabutt Song", "Seven Hungry Tigers", "Little Monster Babies", "Wiggle My Tooth", and "Pee Pee in the Potty." Really.

In much cooler Kimya kid news, she's also in the very beginning stages of working with the producers of "Sesame Street" on music for the show and her own potential appearance on it. Additionally, she contributed a song called "Anthrax" to the soundtrack for Body of War, a documentary about a young veteran of the war in Iraq.

Finally, Dawson still has a heap of previously reported shows to play. [MORE...]

Teenagers and Team Robespierre Link up for Tour

Brooklyn synth punkers Team Robespierre have linked up with French/British pop mischief-makers the Teenagers for a round of North American dates that will take place in late April and early May.

Both of the upstart bands also have headlining shows apart. The Team will play with Matt & Kim in the coming days, and the Teens have a handful of UK dates at the moment before heading off for shows in North America, Europe, Japan, and Russia. [MORE...]

Norah Jones' "Secret" Rock Band Signs to Team Love!
Band reveals intention to "Rock Yer Balls Off"

Photo by Todd Chalfant

Shhhh, you're not supposed to know this, but...Norah Jones-- yes, that Norah Jones-- has a rock band. No really! They're called El Madmo, and they first surfaced in low profile mode back in 2006. Lead singer/guitarist Jones-- excuse me, "Maddie"-- even dons an adorable Zorro/Hamburgler disguise in an attempt to avert the spotlight. But keep all this between you and me, okay? You don't want mom coming to see this. Mom doesn't want to know her adult-contempo darling Norah, like, cusses and stuff, let alone has a song entitled "Rock Yer Balls Off".

Cover-blowing headlines aside, Jones will have a significantly harder time keeping her role in El Madmo under wraps now that the act has signed to Conor Oberst's Team Love imprint. The label will issue El Madmo's self-titled debut full-length on May 20.

According to the Team Love press release, El Madmo "offers escape, justice, karmic postulation, and that feeling you get when you know something that no one else does." Cherish that last one while you can, kids!

Oooh, looks like they're superheroes too:

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David Karsten Daniels Readies New LP, Tours

Self-recording songwriter David Karsten Daniels will follow the fear we experienced looking at the cover of last year's Sharp Teeth with the release of a new album called Fear of Flying. The record comes out April 29 via FatCat.

Daniels will avoid his aviation fear by playing a landlocked tour of North America with Nina Nastasia in late April and early May. Before then, he has two weekly residencies, one at Portland's Mississippi Studios and the other at Seattle's Nectar Lounge. [MORE...]

Radiohead Film Exclusive Performance for Pitchfork.tv
Plus: M83 offer "Graveyard Girl" music video world premiere

It's the final countdown. On Monday, Pitchfork's music video site, Pitchfork.tv, makes its debut. Earlier this week we revealed (with photos!) that our initial launch schedule would feature exclusive performances from Liars, Jay Reatard, A Place to Bury Strangers, and the Thermals, plus the Pixies documentary loudQUIETloud, a trip to Philly with Man Man, an interview with Swedish pop star Robyn, a tour of Brooklyn's Death by Audio venue, and music videos galore.

Well, today, we're overcome with happiness to announce that Radiohead-- yes, Radiohead-- will be joining the new site's Monday lineup with a special performance of In Rainbows CD2 banger "Bangers & Mash", which the band recorded exclusively for the launch of Pitchfork.tv. Shot on Wednesday (as in two days ago!) in Nigel Godrich's basement studio, this utterly kick-ass performance will serve as the site's first-ever music video. Here's a glimpse:

And, as if we're not psyched enough already, Monday will also see Pitchfork.tv hosting the world premiere of M83's "Graveyard Girl" music video-- the first from their forthcoming Saturdays = Youth LP (which, as previously reported, is due April 15 in North America, April 14 in Europe on Mute). Look:

Finally, stay tuned to Forkcast today, because right around 6 p.m. CST, we'll post an extra something special we cooked up (starring "SNL"'s Fred Armisen and Les Savy Fav front/wildman Tim Harrington) to give you an advance taste of Pitchfork.tv's embeddable player. OMG!

Happy viewing. We can't wait 'til Monday.

Tompkins Square Preps New Anthem, Peter Walker LP

The acoustically minded Tompkins Square label is ready to offer the third installment in its Imaginational Anthem series of compilations celebrating "acoustic guitar mavericks past and present," according to a press release. Volume Three will come out on April 8, as will a box set collecting all three volumes.

Almost a month later, Tompkins Square will unveil the first full-length in 40 years from maverick Peter Walker. The East Indian/ Spanish-influenced player shares Echo of My Soul on May 6. Walker also has a European tour beginning April 9 in Girona, Spain. [MORE...]

Radiohead Fire Up Social Networking Site

Forget Pynchon. From here out, W.A.S.T.E. stands for, um, Web Amblers' Social Togetherness Enclave, or something like that. The Radiohead merch clearinghouse has fully embraced the "You" age with the unveiling of a social networking site of sorts, W.A.S.T.E. Central.

Folks who sign up for W.A.S.T.E. Central can, free of change, upload a profile picture, post photos and video clips, invite friends to join too, geek out about upcoming Radiohead gigs, collect virtual "friends", send HOTTT VIAGRAA & XANAX OFERZ to the Thom Yorke avatar, and, um, not much else right now.

But patience, my friends! As a posting from a W.A.S.T.E. Central admin promises, "We'll be adding plenty more bits and pieces in the coming weeks and ironing out any wrinkles or annoyances the best we can. Hope you find something interesting to play with."

Speaking of upcoming Radiohead gigs, there are quite a few of those things lined up right now, with even more-- including a very likely Lollapalooza appearance-- to come. Let's hope they play all of their Best songs. [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.)