Pitchfork

Photo by Akmal Naim

Their eerie hold over fictional Jersey gals and the record-buying public being rather well documented at this point, the Shins are turning their strange powers on yet another unlikely target: "Strange Powers", the Magnetic Fields song from Holiday.

According to Uncut, James Mercer and his Shins will take on the track for a B-side on a new UK-only single for Wincing the Night Away's "Sea Legs", appearing on 7" and digital download December 3 from Transgressive.

As for the vinyl pressing of "Sea Legs", well, the Shins aren't gonna press up too many more of those than they need, which makes it one of those "limited" editions. To drum up even more interest in those "Legs", the first 500 seven-inchers will be signed by the band. I hear Jesse Sandoval draws hearts where his "o" should be.

The Shins are off to Europe, with a little help along the way from the well-dressed young men of Vampire Weekend. They'll make their way to Japan mid-month for a brief run of shows there.

The Shins:

11-05 Paris, France - La Cigale *
11-07 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo *
11-08 Manchester, England - Academy *
11-09 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands *
11-12 Tokyo, Japan - Club Quattro
11-13 Tokyo, Japan - Club Quattro
11-14 Nagoya, Japan - Club Quattro
11-15 Osaka, Japan - Club Quattro

* with Vampire Weekend