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Malajube - new album out now ++ 2009 tour dates (2xNYC)

Malajube @ Oya Fest 2007 (more photos)
Malajube

English Canada isn’t exactly a model of tolerance when it comes to franco-pop, but here the intricate pop of [2006’s] Trompe L’Oeil was taken to heart by a nation’s worth of critics and indie-rock fans, scoring Malajube a nomination on the first-ever shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize later that year. Suddenly, Malajube found itself appointed ambassador for the “other” half of the Montreal underground, the half that conducts its rock `n’ roll business in French and, as a result, rarely gets much mention in Anglo coverage of the city’s recent, globally documented musical blossoming.

Frontman Julien Mineau concedes it was “really flattering” when U.S. organs like Pitchfork and Spin started singing Malajube’s praises, and says he’s still somewhat boggled that the band’s latest album, Labyrinthes – out [February 2009] on Montreal indie label Dare to Care – is about to receive an official American release.

“It’s strange. We’re lucky to be listened to even though we’re in an English-music world,” [Mineau] says from his home in Ste-Ursule, a rural community on the north shore of the St. Lawrence. “But it’s cool like that. I’m really happy that we get this kind of attention…” [Toronto Star]

Labyrinthes came out in the US on Dare to Care in March. In support of that, Malajube has been playing regular dates in their native Canada — they’ll be visiting the US for shows in July. Those include a gig at Maxwell’s on Wednesday, July 22nd and a show at new Brooklyn venue Littlefield on Friday, July 24th. Tickets for the Maxwell’s show are on sale.

UPDATE:
A July 21st Mercury Lounge show was added too. Tickets on sale Thursday.

The band put out a video for the song “Porté disparu,” off the new record. That’s posted below with a making-of and a live rendition of the tune, and all tour dates…

Malajube – 2009 Tour Dates
Jun 20 Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver vancouver, British Columbia
Jun 21 the lucky bar victoria, British Columbia
Jun 25 the starlite room edmonton, Alberta
Jun 26 Sled Island Festival calgary, Alberta
Jun 27 Hi Fi calgary, Alberta
Jul 03 Festivoix de Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières, Québec
Jul 12 Théâtre de Verdure Terrebonne, Quebec
Jul 18 Scène Loto-Québec (Fête du Lac des Nations) Sherbrooke, Quebec
Jul 19 Festival d’été de Québec Québec, Quebec
Jul 21 Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
Jul 22 Maxwell’s Hoboken, New Jersey
Jul 23 M Room Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jul 24 Littlefield Brooklyn, New York
Jul 25 Space Portland, ME
Aug 01 Métropolis, Les Francofolies de Montréal montreal, Quebec
Aug 07 Auberge Ile du Repos Péribonka, QC
Sep 25 Salle Albert-Dumouchel Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Québec