SecretCast

• M.I.A., “Bamboo Banga”
• Flobots, “Handlebars”
• Foxboro Hot Tubs, “Alligator”
• Jason Mraz, “The Dynamo of Volition”
• The Mighty Lemon Drops, “Inside Out”

M.I.A.’s seizure inducing Web site has been updated with news that her next album, Kala, will hit shelves in August:

KALA will be released on XL Recordings in Japan on August 8th and in the UK on August 20th. Interscope Records will release the full length record in the US on August 21st. The track listing will be as follows:

1. Bamboo Banga
2. BirdFlu
3. Boyz
4. Jimmy
5. Hussel (featuring Afrikan Boy)
6. Mango Pickle Down River (with The Wilcannia Mob)
7. 20 Dollar
8. World Town
9. The Turn
10. XR2
11. Paper Planes
12. Come Around (featuring Timbaland)

You can view the first official single’s video, “Boyz,” filmed recently in Jamaica, here.

(Via Ultrabrown.)

Does Timbaland know that East Indian Indians don’t have teepees, that the American Indian Lakota do? The answer: nope.

M.I.A.’s Web site had been down for a while with a wee redesign txt message. Perusing an Ask Metafilter post, I found out that she’s a new video out for Bird Flu, which she had mentioned on her MySpace site a while ago (with behind the scenes pictures). You can view the video here (requires Quicktime). Not sure if I’m feeling it… yet.

Pitchfork reports that Wes “Diplo” Pentz is working on M.I.A.’s followup album to the excellent Arular. Aside from producing some of the tracks to Arular, Diplo was also responsible for the huge underground mix tape Piracy Funds Terrorism.

From the report:

Details on the new disc remain scant, but we do know that M.I.A. shacked up in the studio at some point with everyone’s favorite chaperone to the chorus, Timbaland. While it’s unclear in what capacity he contributed, a video showing M.I.A. and Tim apparently selecting tracks for her new LP popped up on YouTube earlier this week– and vanished before we had a chance to share it with you.

Followup: Pitchfork has added video footage of Timbaland and M.I.A. in the studio.

Shanty pop queen M.I.A. has updated her MySpace with a new mix of XR2. If you don’t feel like heading over to MS, hit Nirali, who has a copy on their site for you to enjoy.

Sepia Mutiny also covers M.I.A. in an article here.

Shoot spit out the window and buy Arular @ Amazon

on her MySpace page, of course. Called “Bird Flu.” She’s also been posting images taken both from her next viddy from the town in south India where they shot it. More info from her MySpace blog:

GOT MY VANS ON, AND THEY LOOK LIKE SNEAKERS

OK OK OK IM ABOUT TO KICK THE DOORRR DOWN

WITH MY VANS ON

IM ABOUT TO PUT A SONG UP HERE CALLED “BIRD FLU”!!! h o t H O T baby bird flew into your building

AND THE PHOTOS ON MY PAGE ARE FROM THE VIDEO I DID OUT THERE IN A FISHING VILLAGE IN SOUTH COAST OF INDIA. THE VILLAGE WAS HIT BY A TSUNAMI, BUT THEY STILL WERE IN GOOD SHAPE!! WE PARCTICALLY MOVED THERE AND HAD THE CRAZIEST TIME GOING OUT FISHING EVERYDAY.

AND I ALWAYZ USED TO SAY THAT ONE DAY IM GONNA RUN AWAY AND MARRY A FISHERMAN AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER AND I THOUGHT DAMN I WAS CLOSE TO SEEING THE REALITY OF MY FOREVER PLAN B.

WE DISCOVERED AN AMAZING BOY WHO CAN OUT DANCE ANYTHING I VE ever SEEN. HE INVENTED ME THE BIRD FLU DANCE.

I CALLED THIS BIRD FLU BECAUSE THIS BEAT GON KILL EVERYONE!!

i love you all its GOOD TO BE BACK!!

WHAT THE GAME BEEN REALLY REALLY MISSIN

Absofreakinglutely, but you’re not gonna find better here: our motto is from bad to worse and back again dancing your way run run run little piggies!

1. M.I.A., “Amazon”
2. MSTRKRFT,” The Looks”
3. Madonna, “How High”
4. Bjork, “Violently Happy”

cover art: Spider Jerusalem of Transmet fame

Link to SC23

Saw this bit o’ news on Sepia Mutiny… our fav Sri Lankan shanty pop rapper, M.I.A., has been denied a U.S. work visa to work on her album here with producer Timbaland.

Less surprising is that her MySpace blog reveals that she’s freaking illiterate:

THEY TRY SHUT MY DOOR!

Roger roger do you here me over!!!!
the U.S immigration wont let me in!!!!!
i was mennu work with timber startin this week, but now im doin a Akon “im locked out they wont let me in” im locked out! they wont let me in! Now Im strictly making my album outside the borders!!!! so il see you all one day, for now ill keep reportin from the sidelines
to my people who walk wiv me in the America, dont forget we got the internet! Spread the word! or come get me!!!!!! ill be in my bird flu lab in china! liming and drinkin tiger beer with my pet turtel. I love everyone for the support, now i need it more. ill stay up spread out else where.

Checking out the Desi flavor…

0. “Dash the Curry Skit,” M.I.A.
1. “Topknot (M.I.A. Mix),” Cornershop
2. “Bhangra Fever,” MIDIval Punditz
3. “Mundian To Bach Ke,” Panjabi MC
4. “Music Plus One,” Cornershop

(artwork: M.I.A.)

If you’re interested, a good Web site to learn about Desi culture is Sepia Mutiny.