Pitchfork

UK-based enigma Various (aka Various Production), known to hitch disparate styles to their first-rate dubstep buggy, sure like to make things difficult, don't they?

As if the name weren't confusing enough (Google seems to have gotten wise, but just try typing "Various" into the Pitchfork search engine), now the XL-signed phenoms are planning to release an album's worth of new tracks in a manner best suited to scavenger hunts, Smashing Pumpkins kiss-offs, and Coldplay tour announcements.

Lucky for you and I, they've spelled things out in fairly plain King's English via a mysterious link on the XL website. Beginning this week and continuing through the three weeks thereafter, Various will issue the new tunes to three exclusive online retailers. One per retailer per week, multiplied by four weeks of exclusive digital download action, yields 12 choice new Various cuts in all. Details below.

The retailers in question are iTunes, Rough Trade's digital shop, and UK electronic clearinghouse Boomkat. Each song also comes with a unique piece of digital artwork-- presumably not unlike the kick-ass black and white-with-a-touch-of-red renderings that grace The World Is Gone and the heaps of Various vinyl releases.

And speaking of those vinyl releases, Various have yet another in the pipeline. "Phortune" comes backed with "Limbs" and arrives September 17 on the band's own imprint. That same day they'll also serve up another Boomkat exclusive, a 12" boasting "Chief", "Suj Mix", and "Bun". The Boomkat version of this release will be screen-printed and limited to 200 copies.

Those who sleep on it can still pick up the regular edition of the "Chief" 12" on October 1. Additionally, XL will release the first remix of "Hater" in an unspecified physical format (possibly involving plastic) on September 24.

Various:

Out now:
"Took" *
"Byker Walk" #
"Home" ^

Out September 3:
"Boy" *
"Nothing Left" #
"Hater" Mix3 ^

Out September 10:
"Bun" *
"Myst" #
"Foller" ^

Out September 17:
"Chief" *
"In This" #
"Hater Mix1" ^

* Boomkat exclusive
# Rough Trade exclusive
^ iTunes exclusive