On 2010's Magic Central, Michigan oddball folkies Breathe Owl Breathe started to veer towards storytelling, children's verse, and colorful, playful compositions out to stoke the imagination of listeners of all ages. Which makes "The Listeners" b/w "These Train Tracks" an obvious next step.

These aren't just the songs on a new seven-inch for the trio, but the soundtracks to twin children's storybooks that are bound with their new slab of vinyl. The Listeners looks a lot like this; feeling as much an art artifact as a rock'n'roll release.

On both Magic Central and 2009's debut Ghost Glacier, it was amazing how much the voice of BOB leader Micah Middaugh sounded like ol' Bill Callahan, with woe seemingly etched into his every baritone utterance. But here, he sounds giddy and gay; voice frolicking amidst singing along children and the constant harmonic counterpoint of cellist/vocalist Andréa Moreno-Beals.

The mole and the ostrich in lyrical question are an odd couple, sure, but they're also singled out for their strangeness, as subterranean mammal and flightless bird. This leads to a greater anthem-for-the-kids about embracing individuality, sounding positively inspirational when Middaugh and tykes carol: "We are not perfect and we are not normal/we are exceptional!"

Breathe Owl Breathe, "The Listeners (The Mole and The Ostrich) "

Photo © Patrick Lelli

Last time we heard from Damien Jurado, he was mournfully falsettoing through "Christmas Time Is Here," showing both his love of the season and the depression that invariably trickles up amidst its twinkling lights.

With "Museum of Flight," Jurado keeps the sweet falsetto, and finds himself back by blue-eyed soul organs played by pal —and recurring collaborateur, now— Richard Swift. The early listen in on Jurado's eleventh LP —Maroqpa, due out February 21 on Secretly Canadian— is both an ode to heartbreak and love, with a sprinkling of faith thrown in.

"Don't let go, I need you to hang around," Jurado croons, "I'm so broke and foolishly in love." It's a sweet moment of optimism about a song in which love, heartache, and re-love is a cycle as birth, life, death.

A "cloud" lingers as a persistent totemic image, a heaven both figurative and, possibly, literal; a place safe from the pain of life. But a cloud is a loaded symbol: part of the cycle of evaporation and rainfall; the journey of that other great life-force —water— the same as Jurado's journey of love.

Damien Jurado, "Museum of Flight"

Photo © Sarah Jurado

All Tomorrow's Parties is staging a two-day I'll Be Your Mirror festival in Tokyo on April 14 and 15. Day one will be curated by ATP themselves, and day two's line-up will be assembled by Jim O'Rourke.

As part of O'Rourke's contributions, he'll recreate his classic 1999 LP, Eureka, in its entirety. With a twelve-piece band. Shinji Aoyama undoubtedly approves.

The rest of the festivities, thus far announced, include O'Rourke's picks of Michel Rother performing music by Neu! and Harmonia, plus Australian improv minimalists The Necks and eternal provocateurs Borbetomagus, who'll play on the Sunday.

On Saturday April 14, ATP's assembled the the recently reunited Codeine, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Magic Band, the Drones, Factory Floor, and Nisennenmondai.

More details at the ATP website.

The Shins' Port of Morrow, their first album in five years, is one of the most awaited albums of the year. With its March 20 release date looming ever closer, James Mercer and co have announced a fresh slate of tour dates.

The band, these days, includes Richard Swift on keys, Jessica Dobson of Deep Sea Diver on guitar, Yuuki Matthews ex-Crystal Skulls on bass, and Modest Mouse/Mister Heavenly drummer Joe Plummer behind the kit. They'll be playing through the US, with stops at Coachella and Sasquatch! on the slate.

Away They Did Run:
March 22-23: London, England - HMV Forum
March 25: Amsterdam, Holland - Melkweg
March 26: Paris, France - Bataclan
March 28: Berlin, Germany - Kesselhaus
March 30: Stockholm, Sweden - Berns Salonger
April 13: Las Vegas, NV - Cosmopolitan
April 14: Indio, CA - Coachella
April 17: Honolulu, HI - Neil S. Blaisdell Center
April 18: Maui, HI - Castle Theatre
April 21: Indio, CA - Coachella
April 22: Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
April 23: Davis, CA - Robert Mondavi Center
April 25: Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
May 25: Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheatre
May 26: George, WA - Sasquatch!
May 28: Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden Ampitheatre
May 29: Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Ampitheatre
May 31: Council Bluffs, IA - Harrah's Council Bluffs
June 4: St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
June 5: Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion
June 6: Detroit, MI - Fillmore Detroit
June 8: Cleveland, OH - Masonic Auditorium
June 9: Louisville, KY - Iroquois Ampitheatre