Kevin Bronson on February 26th, 2012

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British indie-rock veterans the Wedding Present are zooming back onto the radar for two reasons: First, their eighth album (and first since 2008), “Valentina,” will be out March 20, and it’s a doozy, full of barbed-wire guitar licks and frontman David Gedge’s sometimes-savage take on relationships. It’s oddly comforting that Gedge, now past 50 and a part-time Santa Monica resident (and enjoying the Los Angeles life), sounds as if he hasn’t mellowed a bit. Second, and of note to longtime fans, the Wedding Present’s upcoming tour will feature the band performing its Steve Albini-produced album from 1991, “Seamonsters.” Although 2005’s “Take Fountain” is my personal highlight, it’s widely held that “Seamonsters” is the Wedding Present’s masterpiece. Oh, and the new music? The new song “You Jane” is one of 13 songs available for free download from IODA, the digital music distribution and marketing company, to promote the firm’s SXSW party. Also on the compilation: tracks from Y La Bamba, Thee Oh Sees, Poliça, Pillow Fight, L.A.’s own Daniel Ahearn & the Jones and more.

||| Stream: The Wedding Present, “You Jane”:

||| Download: “You’re Dead,” another track from “Valentina”

||| Live: David Gedge DJs at Part Time Punks at the Echo on March 11. The Wedding Present headlines the Troubadour on March 31.

||| Download: The whole IODA SXSW sampler here.

After the jump, the full tracklisting of the IODA sampler:

1. The Wedding Present, “You Jane”
2. The Oh Sees, “A Warm Breeze”
3. Oddisee, “The Carter Barron”
4. Pillow Fight, “In the Afternoon”
5. Y La Bamba, “Michoacan”
6. Tycho, “Hours”
7. Bright Moments, “Travelers”
8. Polica, “Dark Star”
9. Tiago Iorc, “Story of a Man”
10. Dan Mangan, “Oh Fortune”
11. Bam Bam, “Hipnódromo”
12. Ruthie Foster, “Aim for the Heart”
13, Daniel Ahearn & the Jones, “High Life”

Note: If you’re going to Austin, here’s info on IODA’s SXSW Opening Day Bash