Electrelane has just released their fourth album, 'No Shouts No Calls' on Beggars Group Label, Too Pure. I haven't heard the album yet because I haven't risked going into a record store unattended. I need to find a chaperone who will strictly limit my purchases to said item and perhaps the new Blue Scholars.

What I can confidently say is that after purchasing I will immediately put it into my disc-man, get on my bike, and smile all around town as I absorb the first go through.

Equally thrilling is the fact that they're touring the u.s. right now and will be in Minneapolis in one week. I have not looked so forward to a show in a long time and it feels good to be ridiculously giddy.

I've never been able to aptly describe their music or pigeon hole it into a genre. All I know is that it demands my attention and I gladly give it. Each listen and album conjure different feelings. 'Axes' reminds me of wandering the streets of Chicago, I like to ride my bike to 'Power Out' and of late if I had my druthers it would always be raining when their music was on (that's not a bad thing coming from Portland).

Greatest of all is that it continuously serves as a reminder of how powerful music can be and why it is essential to my life.

okay...off you go to by your tickets now.

-alice