2010 sees him release his second LP, Meaningless Friendly, on Chicago’s Tic Tac Totally Records, as well as extensive touring throughout North America and the European Union, with trips further afield in the offing.

Often described as a marriage between any number of groups – expect to see Television Personalities, The Clean, The Nerves, Abba and Swell Maps end up in these pairings – So Cow has also forged a sound that exhibits ambitions and a vision well beyond the dank sheds and freezing bedrooms he tends to record in.

[Find So Cow on Myspace.]

CATCH…
Ripping Dylans
The Maladies
The Magnetic Heads
Line Drawings
and Megastick Fanfare

Plus FBi DJs playing your demos all night

It’s at the Annandale Hotel
On Thursday February 18
10 bucks entry

Are you in a band?
Bring a demo and you might find yourself on stage at a future Sydney Spawn night. There’ll be FBi DJs spinning your tracks in the side room. Plus, we’ll take the demos home to be considered for airplay. Like an Open Day but with beer and a live soundtrack.

Check out their website for more info.

From the press release:
Diafrix and friends are very excited to announce the launch of their new annual event entitled African Affair, which will celebrate the rich and diverse African culture.

The free community festival hosted by Fuzzy from Video Hits – will be launched on Sunday 28th February at Footscray Community Arts Centre. Primarily based around a music concert featuring some of the country’s most amazing artists of African descent (Diafrix, Lo-Tek, Mike Justice, 1/6, DJ Kay-Z and more), the afternoon fiesta will also have football workshops run by Collingwood Football Club’s own Harry O’Brien, as well as offering authentic African cuisine.

The event is the brainchild of an ever-strengthening bond between local hip hop band Diafrix and young Collingwood football superstar Harry O’Brien. O’Brien – the first ever player of African descent in the AFL – is one of the most prolific supporters of the duo, both of whom are African immigrants. The trio has found a mutual passion for community projects and are regularly involved in a multitude of hands-on community roles, while being ambassadors for Make Poverty History and the Burnet Institute.

This continues Melbourne’s celebrated vein of multicultural festivals which includes Lygon Street Festa, Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival and Johnston Street Spanish Fiesta, amongst a host of others. Africa being the world’s second most populated continent, and one that has an increasing influence on Melbourne’s diverse culture, it is time to celebrate our city’s extraordinary ethnic landscape.

SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY
2.00pm – 7.00pm
THE AMPHITHEATRE
Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland Street, Footscray

FREE ENTRY – BYO PICNIC

Diafrix’s Concrete Jungle is out now. Check their myspace for more details.

He’s announced a North American tour and has uploaded a song, Boy Lilikoi, and some videos here. You can listen to the lead single ‘Go Do’ here.

Go features string arrangements written by Antony and The Johnstons composer Nico Mulhy and is due to be released worldwide on April 5th, with a three-track EP Go Do preceding on March 22nd,.

The are pretty much what you’d expect of him after the last Sigur Rós album, but if you watch the behind the scenes videos on his website, it’s plain to see the man has gone absolutely Brian Wilson insane, sampling dogs panting and Bees swarming as well as some guy wailing on a suitcase like it’s a minority suspect.

The madness only continues as his tour will see him team up with theatre company 59 Productions to create a a set to suit the music, some with fairies I’d imagine judging by the artwork above.

Anyway have a listen and see what you think, I just hope this doesn’t mean the end of Sigur Rós.

Yorke sings on ‘…And the World Laughs With You’.

Here’s the track list, if you’re interested, I mean not like you can listen to them… (Oh yeah, that weird picture is the album art)

Cosmogramma:
01 Clock Catcher
02 Pickled!
03 Nose Art
04 Intro//A Cosmic Drama
05 Zodiac Shit
06 Computer Face//Pure Being
07 …And the World Laughs With You [ft. Thom Yorke]
08 Arkestry
09 Mmmhmm [ft.Thundercat]
10 Do the Astral Plane
11 Satelllliiiiiteee
12 German Haircut
13 Recoiled
14 Dance Of the Pseudo Nymph
15 Drips//Auntie’s Harp
16 Table Tennis [ft. Laura Darlington]
17 Galaxy in Janaki

Seriously this album might be one of the most boring things I’ve heard in ages. I’m actually struggling to come up with anything else to say about it.

There’s no doubt he’s still got mad skills in terms of production and sampling, but it just seems like he’s phoned this in. The whole album has that same relentless beat that lulls you into a cone of mediocrity from which there is no escape. He even does the whole phasing delayed samples over the top that you’d expect to hear in some wanky bar in Paris where there’s a longer line for the bathroom than the bar.

I vote we put together a council of fans who listen to artist releases before they come up and cull any of them who are adding to the sonic jetsam that clogs up our airwaves and dance floors.

Bah I have nothing more to say except that Four Tet needs a good kick up the arse if he thinks this album can pass muster. Boring rubbish and don’t waste your time.

1/10

The Temper Trap kicked off 2010 with a set at Falls Festival that many have called the stand out performance of the festival, followed by jammed to the rafters’ appearances on the Green Stage at Big Day Out. With their single ‘Sweet Disposition’ and album Conditions sitting respectively at #14 and #13 on the ARIA charts it’s not hard to argue that The Temper Trap’s homecoming has been a triumphant one.

“When the band broke into their signature hit Sweet Disposition the sardined mass roared and jumped up and down despite the searing heat.” Daily Telegraph, Sydney Jan 23, 2010

“a virtual coming-out performance at Falls. The Melbourne-bred rockers drew the largest and most enthusiastic audience of any local act. Album stand-outs Fader, Love Lost, Down River, Science of Fear and Sweet Disposition were all monster singalongs.” The Age, Melbourne Jan 08, 2010

“…in front of [The Temper Trap] was an overheated, overcrowded and underdressed pack of bodies who had decided a while back that talk of the next big thing wasn’t empty chatter.” Sydney Morning Herald Jan 25, 2010

“Every year one band is too popular for the stage they’re on. This year it was Melbourne’s The Temper Trap…the reaction to British Top 10 hit Sweet Disposition was one of the first moments of the day, but most tracks from their debut album Conditions were singalongs including the stunning Love Lost.” Herald Sun, Melbourne Jan 27, 2010

So what now for the London based Aussie band? Well certainly no rest!

About to undertake a whirlwind sold out European tour, The Temper Trap will then head to the United States for their first headline tour of America, which includes an appearance at the renowned Coachella festival.

It’s then back to the UK for another series of sold out shows – including three nights at Shepherds Bush Empire. Just confirmed to support the band for their UK dates is fellow Aussie singer/songwriter Sarah Blasko.

Meanwhile Conditions remains solidly ensconced in the UK Top 50 album chart and has also spent the past month in the Top 10 on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart. Four major television syncs in the US, including the multi million dollar Chrysler commercial and high rotation on the likes of influential radio station KROQ has led to tickets flying out the box office for their US shows.

If 2009 was a big year for The Temper Trap, 2010 is shaping up to be enormous! Head over to their website for all the latest.