Rumors regarding Surrounded By Silence—the upcoming release from Prefuse 73—have been spreading around the internet all month. The 21-track album features a long list of collaborators (full details can be found in the tracklist below) and is described by leader Scott Herren as an “attempt to get people in different worlds and environments together.”

The album’s closing track “And I’m Gone” features Piano Overlord, Herren’s new instrumental project with Herren on piano and John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea & Cake) on drums. The Piano Overlord project is expected to release an album this summer on Chocolate Industries. Prior to that date Herren expects to tour in support of Surrounded By Silence in Japan, Europe, and North America beginning in March.

Surrounded By Silence Tracklist
01. I’ve Said All I Need To Say About Them (Intro)
02. Hideyaface feat. Ghostface and El-P
03. Bad Memory Interlude One
04. TV Versus Detchibe feat. Tyondai Braxton
05. Expressing Views Is Obviously Illegal
06. Pastel Assassins feat. Claudio and Alejandra Deheza
07. Pagina Dos feat. the Books
08. Silencio Interlude
09. Now You’re Leaving feat. Camu
10. Gratis (Pedro vs. Prefuse)
11. We Go Our Own Way feat. Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead)
12. Mantra Two feat. Tyondai Braxton
13. Sabbatical With Options feat. Aesop Rock
14. It’s Crowded feat. Claudio Deheza
15. Just the Thought feat. Masta Killa and GZA
16. La Correccion Exchange feat. DJ Nobody
17. Hideyaface Reprise (Shaolin Finale) (Reminder + Prefuse Notate Small Ensemble Version)
18. Morale Crusher feat. Beans
19. Minutes Away Without Yu
20. Rain Edit Interlude
21. And I’m Gone feat. Prefuse vs. Piano Overlord vs. Broadcast vs. Cafe Tacuba

*Prefuse 73: www.prefuse73.com

iTunes is the exclusive home of a new Rogue Wave EP released today. The six-song EP features one new song, a cover, and re-recorded acoustic versions of songs from their 2004 Sub Pop release Out of the Shadow. The band is currently in the midst of a North American tour that will last through February to be immediately followed by a tour of Europe.

iTunes EP Tracklist
1. Seconds
2. Falcon Settles Me
3. Non-Revolutionary
4. Sewn Up
5. Endless Shovel
6. Endgame

TOUR DATES
* w/ Two Gallants
+ w/ Film School
January
25: Boulder, CO @ Club 156
26: Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge*
28: Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground*
29: Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s*
30: Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern*
31: Bloomington, IN @ Second Story*
31: Indianapolis, IN @ Luna Music in-store, 3PM

February
01: Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasant’s*
02: Cleveland, OH @ The Spot (Case Western)*
03: State College, PA @ Zenois*
04: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge*
05: Allston, MA @ Great Scott*
05: Brooklyn, NY @ Soundfix in-store, 2PM
06: Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s*
07: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge*
08: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506*
09: Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern*
10: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn*
11: Jackson, MS @ Martin’s Lounge*
12: Houston, TX & Mary Jane’s Fat Cat*
13: Austin, TX @ Emo’s*
14: Denton, TX @ Hailey’s
15: Norman, OK @ Opolis Production*
17: Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
18: Ames, IA @ The Maintenance Shop
19: Mineapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club w/ Comas, Vietnam
22: Portland, OR @ The Doug Fir+
23: Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe+
24: Eugene, OR @ W.O.W. Hall+
26: San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s (Noise Pop 2005)

March
01: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
02: Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko
03: Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown
05: Berlin, Germany @ Cafe Zapata
06: Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
07: Cologne, Germany @ Underground
08: Gent, Belgium @ Vooruit
09: Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
11: Valencia, Spain @ Matisee
12: Mallorca, Spain @ Teatre Lloseta
13: Barcelona, Spain @ Apolo
14: Madrid, Spain @ Moby Dick
15: Algeceras, Spain @ Escuela Politecnica
18: London, England @ Barfly

*Rogue Wave: www.roguewavemusic.com
*iTunes: www.itunes.com

Mission of Burma, who just completed the last of three shows in the Northeast, has announced that they will be performing twice in California during the month of February.

02/22/04: West Hollywood, CA @ Troubador
02/23/04: San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 (Noise Pop 2005)

For those unable to attend any of the live performances, the recently released Snapshot EP may be able to satiate some of your need for live Mission of Burma. Recorded in front of a small audience in Boston for a radio broadcast, the album is available exclusively through iTunes.

*Mission of Burma: www.missionofburma.com
*iTunes: www.itunes.com

January 25, 2005 will see the release of Lou Barlows first “solo” album titled Emoh on Merge Records. The fourteen-track album is split between eight produced by Mark Nevers, Josh Schwartz and Wally Gagel as well as six recorded at home by Barlow himself. In support of the album, Barlow will be performing in-store at three record shops on the west coast with a full nationwide tour to begin in March. Confirmed dates may be found below. Updates will be posted as more dates are announced.

IN STORE PERFORMANCES
January
24: Seattle, WA @ Sonic Boom 7PM
26: San Francisco, CA @ Amoeba 6PM
27: Los Angeles, CA @ Amoeba 7PM

CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
March
01: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
02: Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East Upstairs
03: North Hampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
04: Philadelphia, PA @ khyber
05: Arlington, VA @ Iota
08: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
09: Atlanta, GA @ Earl

*Lou Barlow: www.loobiecore.com
*Merge Records: www.mergerecords.com
*Sonic Boom Records: www.sonicboomrecords.com
*Amoeba Music: www.amoebamusic.com

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service will be performing at two concerts this month to raise money for victims of the recent tsunami.

Friday, January 14, 2004
Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
The Showbox as well as 107.7 The End, 90.3 KEXP, The Stranger, and The Seattle Weekly are presenting this benefit featuring Ben Gibbard, James Mercer of The Shins, and David Bazan of Pedro the Lion. All proceeds will go to Northwest Medical Teams in support of their efforts to send medical volunteers and supplies to Southern Asia.

Friday, January 28, 2004
San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
In addition to Ben Gibbard, this benefit will also be featuring Eric Bachmann of Crooked Fingers and Archers of Loaf as well as Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon. Proceeds from this event will go to the Save The Children Foundation to help and protect children effected by the tsunami in Southeast Asia.