The LP4 Curse
or If Anyone Says 2009, I'll Die

From a bulletin that was sent to Elbow's friends over MySpace (which subsequently got to me through the Powderblue fansite's message boards):

dear chaps
in the last two years:

2500 hours spent writing and recording.
2500 sandwiches eaten
500 bottles of milk
8000 brews
20,000 cigarettes smoked
2.3 metres of fingernails grown
21 feet of hair
21000 miles commuted 3000 of them on foot
90000 stairs climbed
to make 55 minutes of music.
as of 22:17 tonight 24th sept 07
album 4 is complete but untitled

release date 2008
thank you for your patience and see you very soon.

love elbow x

Just today, I caught this note from one of the band members of Doves. It's less promising:

Hi all
So we've been hauled up 4 some time in the studio . We've done 8 tracks We will be recording another 8 tracks so we still have some way to go .Again thanks for all your words of encouragement it means a lot to us . When we finish this album and enter the "touring bubble like world" (I'm hearing a lot of requests to play in your city's/ towns )Noted !!We will try and visit as many places as possible .
The studio is a little farmhouse barn in cheshire (half way between manchester and liverpool )we did some mixing in RAK studios owned by the ledgenary producer Mickie Most .john leckie has since moved on due to previous commitments( he's now recording with african artist Baaba Maal) (Co production wise )We've hooked up with an amazing up and coming producer called Dan Austin (cherry ghost /massive attack ) We immediately clicked .As a result the recording is very intuitive So the mood is really positive and upbeat in the doves camp -Andy is about to become a dad for the first time so were all really excited for him -obviously were taking 3 to 4 weeks out of recording cause andy will be in baby mode .we will all be writing new tune's in the spare time , it's a good break to write fresh material..... Er sorry no Album release this year cause its goto be right ...we do appreciate you being patient

xxxxxxxxx

The boys in Doves seem to be struggling quite a bit with this album for some reason. They've been in the studio for 5 months (or so) and still only 8 tracks? Give Andy's baby one month, then another 6 months for the other 8 tracks they want to lay down. That includes time for the holidays and any new tracks they come up with over the next month. We're looking at a completion date in early summer with a release date not hitting until fall 2008 at the absolute earliest. I suspect that Elbow's album will drop sooner, hopefully by late spring/early summer.

Such depressing news. It fits my current Josh Ritter/Kings of Convenience/Keane/Alfie mood.

Stay young, fans.

Edit: Ask, and you shall receive. Guy Garvey himself says LP4 hits the shelves in January 2008. Sweet.