Coming off a whirlwind of touring and major media attention from their 2007 album Standing in the Way of Control, the Gossip are indulging in some well-needed rest. The band is home in Portland, relaxing while also working on their new album. Yeah — I'm sure that's totally relaxing. No pressure!

In a MySpace blog post this week, bassist Brace Paine that they will not be playing until the new album comes out, except for one special performance at the Miami Art Basel festival in December:

We are collaborating on a piece with the kingpins and art master Jim Drain. It will be a very special performance indeed, for you Floridians, check it out.

Floridians, utilize your camera phones and DailyMotion accounts, please. Until then, the rest of us can look forward to occasionally posted demos and new songs, including the latest, "1000 Things" which Brace writes is "to celebrate the gorgeousness and subtle doom of the fall here in the pacific northwest."

How does it sound? Delicate, actually, with some melancholy in Beth's voice and a Joy Division-esque guitar throughout over a steady low bass and percussion. It's a little bit different, as it should be — things have changed for Beth, Hannah and Brace since their last album, and their progression as people and musicians should be evident on the new album. We just have to be patient.

One more thing we can look forward to: Beth singing on the new Simian Mobile Disco album, slated for an early 2009 release. Again, patience. I'm trying!