Seeing as it's the season of gift giving, here at TSC headquarters we... Funny how indie kids always talk about their bedroom operations in grandiose terms: their band / label has a headquarters, it's based in Fizzbomb Mansion, Indie Pop House, all overseen by a President. Ironic given that we're named for some kind of metropolis. er... anyway. Here at The Winter Palace Offices of the Commissariat of the People's Republic of Indie Pop, in the Soft City, we have decided on a holiday season giveaway. For one day, and one day only (can you guess which?) The Soft City, the stunning, no, haunting, debut album by The Soft City will be free to download, with artwork etc, from our Bandcamp site. Free to those who guess what day that is. It's a kind of competition - guess the day, win the prize type of thing. Until then it'll cost ya!

But there's more! For one day (that same day) only you will be able to download a song from our new 4-track EP, which isn't even out yet! Gratis. It's coming out in the Spring on Vinyl. 7". 4 tracks (yes that's right). 331/3 rpm, like in the old days. When Wimpy burgers came on a plate, with a cup and saucer cup of tea. Do they still? The Soft City is a NYC band btw... SORRY UPDATE: SONG NOT READY! WE WILL GIVE YOU A FREEBIE AS SOON AS THOUGH.

Over at Skatterbrain we've made their Top Twenty for the year, which is super tops. One of songs is included in their mix tape for 2010 called Au Revoir 2010, which includes lots of great acts: Best Coast, Crystal Stilts, Cinema Red and Blue, Frankie Rose, Veronica Falls, Belle and Sebastian: illustrious company indeed!

Does anyone even read this? Maybe...

It's been a bit quiet, but we've been up to lots. This summer we recorded a four track EP, to come out as a digital release and limited 33 1/3 r.p.m. 7" single in the Spring. Yes that's right, a 4-track seven-inch single like in the sixties. Vinyl extended play - our favourite format. The tracks are:

Dear Claire

Plane in the Sky

Let Me On Board

Buttoned Up.

It'll be on the band's own Calico Cat label, with free stuff and a digital download ticket too.

It's been quite on the gig/show front, but we've been rehearsing with a new drummer, Lisa, and a guitarist Andy, with a view to playing some shows in the new year. We've written / are writing some new tunes too.

Jason is on a sabbatical from the group at the mo', mainly because he is now teaching in Baltimore, but fear not he's promised to drop by with a new song from time to time.

Oh and we've set up a Bandcamp website too.

Oh and that old chestnut Snow Keeps Falling, our Christmas song makes another appearance, this time on a digital comp. called Happy Gift for the Pop Kids, through Japanese label Happy Prince. It will be available on iTunes, etc, just like The Beatles.

In the meantime we Dora and Lisa have penned the words to a Hanukkah song, with music by Phil. Hanukkah kind of crept up on us a bit this year, so it isn't recorded yet, but we rest assured it will make an appearance!