Quick Hits & Clips: The Ropes, (International) Noise Conspiracy, Breaking Laces, Comsat Angels

• Check out the new video for "Kitty Get Down" from The Ropes.
• The (International) Noise Conspiracy's Dennis Lyxzén and Lars Strömberg reflect on working with Rick Rubin, the mixing politics with art, and spending a decade as a band against the world in a new ShockHound video interview.
• "Six hands, three bodies -- that's who we are," says lead vocalist/guitarist/main songwriter Willem Hartong of Breaking Laces. It's a simple declaration of artistic purpose, but one that underlines the special charm of this three-piece alternative acoustic rock trio from Brooklyn, NY, who'll debut new material from their third album -- due out later this year -- during two shows at SXSW (March 19 5:00 pm at Chuggin' Monkey and March 20 10:00pm at Dizzy Rooster). "I hope the album makes people cry happy tears," Hartong continues. "I hope it makes people want to dance and have sex with each other. I hope it makes people feel less alone."
• Sensoria are pleased to announce the reunion of seminal post-punk band The Comsat Angels and an exclusive live performance in their hometown at the O2 Academy, Sheffield on Sunday, April 26th as part of the Sensoria film and music festival. Active from 1978 to 1995, the Comsat Angels have been credited as an inspiration to current bands such as Editors, Interpol and White Lies and have been lovingly championed by film critic Mark Kermode as "the band Joy Division should have been." They will be performing songs from the first three albums only and Mark Kermode will be present to give a special introduction.