A crisp early morning, and everything’s yellow, gold, and red. Too little sleep, but always more than enough energy to sing another favourite.

• You’re My Only Home [The Magnetic Fields] (for Rolf, Catriona, Katie, and Stefanie of Florence Gardens)

xox, mark + catriona sturton + shane turner

We know we should be asleep, but sometimes you just want to stay up and sing with your friends.

• Asleep & Dreaming [The Magnetic Fields]

xox, mark + catriona sturton + shane turner

The new Woodpigeon album Die Stadt Muzikanten is available for pre-order via Boompa Records starting today. And because everyone’s all about the pre-order bonuses these days, we’ve got a few nice ones in store for you too.

First of all, all copies of Die Stadt Muzikanten released in our home and native land of Canada will receive the bonus mini-album disc BALLADEER / to all the guys i’ve loved before, a collection of new tunes recorded in Calgary and Dublin.

Secondly, the first 100 orders will receive a special Die Stadt Muzikanten poster, featuring album artwork by the amazing Jeff Kulak.

And finally, everyone who pre-orders before the 12 January 2010 release date will also receive some bonus .mp3 recordings between now and then, including (but not limited to, because who knows what will make its way to tape between now and then) some solo acoustic renditions of the songs from Die Stadt Muzikanten. These bonus .mp3s will also come with new illustrations by Mark and others, so you’ve got something to look at on your iPhone screens while the songs play.

Visit the Boompa Shop now!

Finally, it just has to be said – we spend a lot of time complaining in this part of the world about what our winters are like, but for me, there’s just nothing quite like the first snow of winter. The air is incredibly clear and crisp, everything’s covered in perfect white, and there’s no better excuse for staying inside under a warm blanket and taking it easy. I seem to get an awful lot done when it’s cold outside.

Here’s an example, a new song called ‘85’, in honour of our friends Anna and Beau. Here’s to the Canadian winter.

•  85

There’s far more to Vík í Mýrdal than just its record as the rainiest place in Iceland (the seas are so rough here, they’ve never been able to build a harbour). It’s also one of the most inspiring views one will ever see. In tribute, a new song, dedicated to Reynisdrangar, the three trolls. (Listen for the rain through the window … a bit of a theme with these recordings).

• Reynisdrangar Lullaby

xox, mark + benjamin stacey of reykjavik.