Black Math have released a trippy video for their track "Night Shade" which comes their Phantom Power which was released last year by Permanent Records.

Local label and publisher Another New Calligraphy recently announced the signing of the hauntingly beautiful Emily Cross (aka Cross Record). Late last year Emily released a series of free singles through bandcamp as Cross Record that were charming and entrancing that the local label could not resist. ANC will be releasing Emily’s debut album Magnetic Current on April 19th.

In the last two months Emily has shared the stage with Thin Hymns, Pillars & Tongues, Can.Ky. Ree, and other like minded bands. She is well on her way to having a great emergence this year.

The Smoking Popes released their latest album, This Is Only A Test, on March 15th and performed down at SXSW the next night. The album is triumphant return for these ’90’s Chicago punk-pop hero’s. The album is a concept album of sorts, and the band is currently down at SXSW tearing it up. Check out their live performce on JBTV here, and the video for their new track "Punk Band" below. 

Rachel Ries is packing her bags and leaving Chicago. To say thank you and goodbye she is offering a limited edition package of goodies to her fans. In her special $30 "Farewell Chicago Bundle" you will receive her 2007 release Without A Bird on 180 gram vinyl and CD, a Without A Bird T-shirt, and a jar of Rachel’s homemade jam!.

Rachel’s last Chicago show is this Saturday at The Hideout with Detholz!

In May the French Label African Tape will be releasing Big’n’s first new music since 2000. The new Ep will be called Spare The Horse, and feature four new tracks. The tracks were recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio earlier this year. Currently it will only be released as vinyl import, but if you enjoy the spastic sounds of this classic noise markers it will be well worth it.

The French label also release a collection of singles and unreleased tracks by Big’n last month called Dying Breed.

Salva has released his new album Complex Housing via Friends of Friends Music and is available in a baby blue vinyl edition. He also premiered a new video for their track "Keys Open Doors" today on Pitchfork Tv, and released a new podcast via xlr8r. Paul Salva is really pushing Chicago house into a new realm with this one.

Salva will be performing at SXSW on 3/18 @ 9pm at the Surefire Showcase @ Barcelona.

Campfires is releasing a new 7" called "Dusty Mansions" on Small Plates Record (the new imprint from I Guess I’m Floating and YVYNYL music blogs) on April 12th. Campfires is primarily the work of Jeff Walls, and he is making a name for the band in the thriving Chicago experimental scene. You can preorder the album now.

Detholz! has released a new digital album that you can pay what you like for on bandcamp. Death To The Traitor combines interesting instrumentation and sparse rhythms with historical themes and images. The album is fun and danceable in spite of some of the heavier themes.

Detholz! will be celebrating the release of the album at The Hideout with Rachel Reis (her farewell to Chicago show) on March 19th.

Pitchfork TV has released a new session with Smith Westerns. The band perform’s four tracks for their recently released album Dye It Blonde. The band is performing six shows at SXSW including the Pitchfork Party on 3/17 at The East Side Drive In, 6:15pm and the NPR Showcase @ Stubb’s BBQ pn 3/16, 10:15pm.

The latest video on Giant System comes from White Mystery. The duo is headed to SXSW so if you are as well here is preview of what you can expect.

The Chicago dynamic duo, Brontosaurus, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the CD and Vinyl pressing of their LP, Cold Comes To Claim. Please visit Kickstarter for more information or to donate. The result of months of meticulous construction and deconstruction, Cold Comes to Claim is a powerful introduction to the Chicago music community. Download a free mp3 at their website to get a taste of their off kilter, sometimes pretty, sometimes eerie, always interesting pop compositions.

I know SXSW is about to get under way, but that also means Record Store Day is just around the corner. In Tall Buildings, who will be performing 3 SXSW shows, have announced a 7-inch record to be released on record store day. The single will contain a cover of Cains and Abels’ track "Warm Rock” and the B-side includes an alternate, “bedroom-pop” version of the band’s track “The Way To A Monster’s Lair.” The band is working on the following to last year’s self-titled debut album.

In Tall Buildings will be performing at Lincoln Hall on April 9th, and will do an in-store performance at Saki on Record Store Day, April 16th.