Hot Club de Paris to release new EP

I mentioned in an older post that Hot Club de Paris was currently working on an EP for a May release and earlier this week the band official announced it. The 6 track EP titled The Rise and inevitable Fall of The High School Suicide Cluster Band will be on hand number 10" vinyl of which only 500 will be made. Hot Club is also a part of Moshi Moshi's lifetime subscription giveaway in which a gold record gives you free Moshi Moshi releases for life. The album is now available for preorder and if you were thinking about getting it, I'd hurry as not only is it a good opportunity to stock up on some good tunes but also the chance for a lucky five purchasers to win free Moshi Moshi releases.

You can preorder the EP here:
http://moshimoshi.greedbag.com/buy/the-rise-and-inevitable-fall-of/

Pitstop: Major Seven & The Minors

Major Seven & The Minors is the moniker of Norwegian producer/musician Kato Adland though before becoming Major Seven, Adland was a member of Sondre Lerche's backing band The Faces Down and still assists Lerche as an occasional producer. The result of many late nights locked in studio after work, Adland has released two albums so far Music to Watch Nerds By, and The Laziest Man on Mars in late 2008 which features a retro-rock sound with wonderfully crafted string arrangements, as well as an overall link in sound that makes the albums seem like little suites generously bequeathed to the listener. Unfortunately, these little gifts in the form of albums will probably be the only way you enjoy Major Seven and the Minors as there have been no announcements to tour or even play shows. Here's hoping that changes soon as Adland's music is simply too good not to be shared.

Give Major Seven and the Minors a listen on their myspace here:
http://www.myspace.com/majorsevenandtheminors

Pitstop: Marit Larsen

Meet Marit Larsen. You might remember her as one half of the Norwegian pop duo M2M but don't let that jade you. Since the duo called in quits in the early 2000s, Larsen took a bit of a siesta from music only to return as solo artist with a much more refined and mature sound. Releasing her debut solo album Under the Surface in 2006 and more recently sophomore release The Chase in 2008, Marit Larsen blends pop and folk to spin sentimental tales of love loss that are surprisingly hopefully. It's obvious with the first listen that Larsen has overcome her pop star days to become an accomplished singer/songwriter and here's hoping she continues to craft her pop folk ditties.

Get a taste with her single "If a Song Can Get Me You" off The Chase:

Regina Spektor covers Radiohead for charity

Regina Spektor, the Russian-American anti-folk/pop siren has almost always contributed to help those less fortunate just last month she played a Haiti Benefit show in NYC, now she's back performing a cover of Radiohead's "No Surprises" to raise money for Doctors without Borders. 100% of the proceeds will go toward helping those in the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. You can listen to the track at the link provided below and if you like it, why not shoot on over iTunes and purchase it. It's for a good cause!

Listen to Regina Spektor cover No Surprises by Radiohead here:
http://stereogum.com/354561/regina-spektor-no-surprises-radiohead-cover/mp3s/

Now Streaming: The New Pornographers - Together

The New Pornographers, the Canadian powerpop supergroup from Vancouver, are releasing their fifth album Together on May 4th. To help ease the wait, fans can stream the whole album in its entirety on NPR's First Listen here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126174756

In addition to it's almost claustophobia-inducing amount of musicians, Together also features Beirut's Zach Condon, Okkervill River's Will Shelf, St. Vincent's Annie Clark, and the horn section from Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. Give it an listen as it's sure to be an enlightening experience.

Sondre Lerche to open for a-ha in farewell tour US dates

Norwegian pop rock band a-ha are calling it quits after nearly 30 years. The band is most known for "Take On Me" from their debut album Hunting High and Low, but has released eight studio albums in their career, the last one released late last year. This tidbit is pretty old news. However the new news is that Sondre Lerche, the Norwegian pop rock crooner, will be opening for the band at their last couple shows in New York City at the Nokia Theater. It's oddly poetic as a-ha was Sondre Lerche's favorite band growing up (almost to the point of obsession) and he opened for them after his first album Faces Down went big, now he gets the proud honor of seeing his heroes off by opening for them during their farewell tour. It's bound to be an amazing experience so if you're in the area, go!

Watch: Left with Pictures - "River Avon"

April's almost over which means British chamber pop band Left with Pictures is dishing out another addition to their In Time project. Their fourth venture is called "River Avon" and was created by Mikail Chowdhury and the band's own Toby Knowles.

The video features Knowles as a closet superhero costumed in pantyhose, a Left with Pictures cape, and pair of swim goggles by the name of Powerman waiting for some sort of sign from other hero to spring into action before giving up. The song itself is slow moving and melancholic and remiscient of the rainy days April is known for. Watch it here:

River Avon from left-with-pictures on Vimeo.