Move aside, move aside. David Sitek has a new muse. The talented Holly Miranda (lead singer of Brooklyn's The Jealous Girlfriends) has teamed up with Sitek for her forthcoming, as yet untitled album.

A Detriot native, Miranda is familiar with the solo artist tag, having released her debut record High Above the City in 2001. Her new effort has been kept pretty under wraps by the Sitek camp. However, there has been a conveniantly leaked single that's made its way to the internet.

Slow Burn Treason features Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio) lending his trade mark Oooos and Ahhhhs to Miranda's dreamy wash of vocals. It's an understated swell of of keys, pattering drums and Kate Bush melodrama. Quite beautiful indeed.

Get a preview of all the good things to come from Holly Miranda. Listen to Slow Burn Treason here.

A highlight at the recent All Tommorow's Parties was Washington's stoner rockers Dead Meadow. Formed in 1998, this three piece kicked out a killer set - and their fifth album Old Growth is equally as entrancing.

Jason Simon's muffled drawl sits dreamily over swampy psychedilc guitar and Stephen McCarty's slick drumming. The spirit of this album is the effortless swagger of sound that tips it's hat at classic American garage rock and 60's wah-wah.

Old Growth isn't ground breaking by any means, but ts charming, organic ebb and flow creates a subtle, cruisy album that embraces escapism and old skool R & B. Get lost in the warm, swirling waters of tracks like Aint Got Nothing (To Go Wrong) and Im' Gone. Or get your lighter out and sway in your living room to closing track Either Way.

Dig into this honey toned record, and if you like what you find, be sure to explore the back catalogue from Dead Meadow's decade of recordings.

Here's a little of what we've been listening to ...

Melbourne 5 piece St Helens have just released the first single from their forthcoming album.  How to Choose Your Guru Part 2 is a little cracker, and a great indication of  their much hyped sound. We can’t wait for the rekkid.

Another Melbourne act tickling our ears are The Twerps. Summery, obnoxious tales reminiscent of a slicker era when the sun and the surf were all you needed to get high.

With recent news of Ryan Adam quitting his band The Cardinals, there’s much media hype about him quitting music altogether. So, in a swoon of nostalgia we’ve dug out ‘Love is Hell’ for a couple of more plays.

By now you would have heard about Devendrah Bandhart’s new side project MegaPuss.  Stoner rock with lyrics about chicken tits are a great accompaniment to a blow up paddling pool and a pint of punch.

Lastly, hottie film actor Ryan Gosling has launched his own record label. First for release is his new band Dead Man's Bones (pictured), a cross between The Doors and a Disney haunted mansion. We're intrigued.

Melbourne based independent record label Mistletone, are taking their seasonal showcase of artists on the road. Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will be treated to Baltimore’s Dan Deacon (pictured), Brooklyn underground party duo High Places, and London’s pop wizard Lawrence Arabia. Accompanying them on their interstate jaunt will be a swag of local talent ranging from The Ruby Suns, Ned Collette, Beaches, Mark Barrage and many, many more …

FEBRUARY 27 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
FEBRUARY 28 – The Espy, Melbourne
MARCH 6 – The Zoo, Brisbane

The always cool Chrissy Hynde has headed up a very intriguing record promotion. She's headhunted a new star for The Pretenders forthcoming single Boots of Chinese Plastic, taken from their latest album Break Up The Concrete.

The catch?

You needed to lip sync to her song wearing plastic shoes. Hynde says "this was a fun way to raise awareness for a very serious cause." Hynde, an avid support of PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), has created this competition to amp up the publicity surrounding animal cruelty within the fashion industry.

You can check out her video message and prize details here.

And sorry guys, competion closed February 6th.