A Pavement reunion is not an issue right now… Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are coming up with a brand new album, Mirror Traffic, Their most immediate and energized set to date. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Beck, Mirror Traffic is an album comprised of fifteen almost-pop songs, and the sound of a band with a spring in their step. As the first producer to work with Malkmus since Pavement, Beck has drawn out a set of performances that ring with clarity and inventiveness, trading in the Jicks more recent wig-out moments for a sharply defined focus and a more colourful depth of field. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are actually enjoying themselves… The riffing is as elegant, poised and classy as riffing gets. As far as Malkmus is concerned, for someone who has occasionally enjoyed a reputation for throwing ideas into the air and seeing where they land, Mirror Traffic is a confidently direct and purposeful record. Enjoy the ride…