Pitchfork

-- Canadian rapper/producer Cadence Weapon, otherwise known as former Pitchfork writer Rollie Pemberton, is doing the Radiohead thing and releasing Separation Anxiety, a pay-what-you-want mixtape, via his website. The tracklist includes a whole bunch of remixes of other artists' songs (Sally Shapiro, RJD2, Kid Sister, Busdriver, Roots Manuva) a live Chad Vangaalen cover featuring Final Fantasy, and, if we're lucky, a song about why he didn't just call himself "Rollie Pimperton." Seriously, basically the best rap name ever was right there, and it makes no sense that he didn't just take it.

-- The National Geographic Society has just launched its own record label, the ridiculously named Nat Geo Music. This is, after all, such a great time to get into the music business. The label will focus on releasing music from around the world, but I think I'd like it better if it just released tons of different versions of the old National Geographic theme.

-- Rough Trade Records has signed Matthew Herbert's ramshackle pop protege Mica Levi, aka Micachu, because Rough Trade Records gotta catch 'em all. Rough Trade will release Micachu & the Shapes' debut album Jewellery in the U.S. on April 7 and in the UK on March 9. She'll play SXSW, and hits the road with Late of the Pier in February.

-- Mumu-rocking Swedish psych-poppers the Soundtrack of Our Lives apparently have decided that the world needs to hear their two-disc 24-song opus. Yep Roc will release Communion in the U.S. on March 3, and a U.S. tour is set for March. Some people seem to like this album cover: