So the bloggers have gone to SXSW (well, not I, but some bloggers have). Here are some bits and pieces to chew on.

Sonic Spectrum went to SXSW and talked to Heather McIntosh of the Instruments and Circulatory System. She spoke with the blog about the upcoming Circulatory System album. Sonic Spectrum writes, "Rumor has it OTC is back together but will use the Circulatory System as their moniker playing songs from all of the members' other groups, including Olivia Tremor Control, The Sunshine Fix and new Circulatory System tunes." [UPDATE: Kelly Ruberto of elephant6.com states that this rumor is complete B.S. Just to let you know.] The blog promises more of the Heather McIntosh interview in coming weeks. There's also a brief, curious "rant" about the Essex Green not being as psychedelic as they used to be.

But at least he's not patronizing, as the Onion AV Club was when they recently mentioned Essex Green at SXSW, and seemed shocked that the band didn't sound like Arcade Fire, or something. They seem to have enjoyed Dressy Bessy a bit more.

Some words about the Of Montreal SXSW performance can be found at the following:

Chromewaves: "...the audience was crying, screaming, gnashing teeth, rending clothes...okay, actually it was Kevin Barnes who was rending his clothes, coming out on stage dressed as a bride and then attacked and stripped by his bandmates before they launched into a thoroughly entertaining set of discoesque pop."

Chartattack: "There were no costume changes like at their recent Mod Club show in Toronto, but there were hooks galore in their totally fun alternative pop tunes."

Brooklyn Vegan has some photos and free OM MP3s.

Get a brief glimpse of Of Montreal performing "The Final Countdown" at SXSW at athensmusic (under the March 21st post).

And, of course, there's plenty more Of Montreal clips at YouTube.


Optical Atlas should have lots of exciting things for you in the week ahead, but I can't mention any of them, lest they take longer than I expected and then I look stupid when they don't appear. But keep checking back. And I can't emphasize this enough: listen to Kim Cooper and Robert Schneider on Monday's edition of Soundcheck on WNYC radio, 93.9 FM, at 2-3pm EST. (The show should be archived at the site, too.) They will be discussing Neutral Milk Hotel and the making of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and may also be dropping more details about the documentary which Kim has begun with filmmaker Chris Dortch. If you're an Elephant 6 fan, there should be plenty to please you in the weeks ahead, I promise.