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A beloved member of the indie pop community-- cherished as the vocalist for melancholy Sarah Records outfit Blueboy, and as a member of Arabesque, Beaumont, and Matinée Records acts the Snowdrops and Lovejoy-- Keith Girdler passed away on May 15, 2007 after a three-year battle with cancer.

In addition to playing music, Keith also served in recent years as a social worker and as the Volunteer Services Manager at the Age Concern care facility in Eastbourne, England.

Girdler's Snowdrops bandmate Richard Preece, who also helms Lovejoy, wrote the following in memory of his friend who passed on:

"Keith was extremely brave and he continued in his work for as long as possible during his illness. I know that Keith was very highly regarded by his colleagues and the people for whom he provided care and support in his work. He was a selfless and gentle person who genuinely affected everyone he knew with his warmth, kindness, humility and humour.

"Keith wanted to be remembered, to use his own words, with 'happiness and smiles'-- which for those of us fortunate enough to have known him, will come all too easily despite our grief."

Preece also wished to extend an invitation to those who also seek to share their thoughts on Keith:

"Words cannot really come close to describing the feelings we have about Keith. However, I know that many people will want to express their sorrow at this news and their sympathy to his family and friends. If you would like to send a message of condolence, or share your memories of Keith, please send an email to:

snowboundipc@yahoo.co.uk

originally taken from pitchforkmedia.com

Kevin Shields: MBV Will "100%" Make Another Album

Kevin Shields has revealed, in an interview published in the January/February issue of Magnet Magazine, that he intends to record another full-length with My Bloody Valentine. It would be the shoegaze overlords' first album since 1991's classic Loveless.

"I do feel that I will make another great record," Shields told the publication. "We are 100% going to make another My Bloody Valentine record unless we die or something. I'd feel really bad if I didn't make another record. Like, shit, people only got the first two chapters, but the last bit is the best bit. It's just that it's taken me such an oddly long time for that to happen." Wait. Better than Loveless? Kev, we know good for press and everything, but holy crap, dude, what are you saying?

Given Shields' recent remix and solo work for Sofia Coppola films and Go! Team singles, the guy has a lot to prove-- although there's no question the album would certainly be one of the most highly anticipated releases of... whatever year it eventually comes out. As for what year that might be, Shields was hesitant to give any kind of timeframe. (Actually, the answer was, "I don't know," so let's just take this with a grain of salt altogether.) But Shields did have this to say, in defense of the band's inability, thus far, to follow their magnum opus:

"A lot of people say the reason My Bloody Valentine didn't make another record is because we couldn't. That's mostly true, but not because we couldn't make another record, but because I never could be bothered to make another record unless I was really excited by it. And just by fate or whatever, that never happened. I'm quite optimistic about the future, even though experience has taught me that I'm probably just delusional."

Hah, well, on the off chance it never happens, we'll always have the past: