Times New Viking Sign To Matador Records

Many props to our friends Jared, Beth and Adam... may you get to tour Europe and smoke a lot of hash for free. Seriously though, we couldn't be happier for you guys! verticalPhil says: "Yay!"

Matador's final (official) new signing of 2006 are the veterans of 2005's most exciting debut album and what will hopefully be one (or two) of 2007's most anticipated 2007 releases. We're as pleased as a Carmelo Anthony sucker punch to announce the signing of Columbus, OH's TIMES NEW VIKING to a longish, global recording agreement.

The trio of drummer/vocalist Adam Elliot, keyboardist/vocalist Beth Murphy and guitar virtuoso Jared Phillips came to our deficient attentions last year when their first album, 'Dig Yourself', emerged as the first release in years from the pioneering imprint Siltbreeze (former home to crucial early works by Guided By Voices, the Dead C., Sebadoh, Strapping Fieldhands, Harry Pussy and other giants). Those skeptical to the how's and whys of a seminal American indie coming out of hibernation had their cynicism shattered with one listen to 'Dig Yourself', an instant classic that recalls multiple generations of that nebulous thing known as "lo-fi" while still being packed with a sensibility undeniably TNV's own.

Through their national travels --- both as a headliner, and in league with such characters as The Country Teasers, Mission Of Burma, Endless Boogie and Psychedelic Horseshit, Times New Viking have achieved near mythic status in the US unideground, and we fully expect it is just a matter of time before they become the favorite band of exactly the sort of people you can't stand to hang around with.

Said efforts will be helped along in no small part by the release of their upcoming 2nd LP/CD, ''present the paisley reich' (Siltbreeze) in February '07. We expect the band to celebrate their lame duck status on Siltbreeze when they commence recording of their first Matador long player sometime next year.

Heard the new record is tentatively titled "Kill Yourself" and will be filled with dark, skuzzy pop songs for the people in your life who have recently broken up with their significant others. Also, should be out in the fall.