Local Radar highlights bands that the local team at The Current is spinning heavily at their desks. You'll be able to preview a track from each as well as hear them on The Local Show and Local Current. This week, we're on the road to the Chippewa Valley talking about bands that we'll be featuring on the Local Show this Sunday night.

Gospel Gossip
At long last, Gospel Gossip is back. After three years of silence, we learned this week that the trio would be dropping another 7” as a preview to a new album early 2013. That drop was fast, and lead track “Atlantic Blue” is now streaming over at their Bandcamp.

It feels good to say that Gospel Gossip is back, and that we’ll have another batch of solid shoegaze to immerse ourselves in as autumn takes hold. This is a band that has come to be one of the most respected acts in the Twin Cities music canon, one which has seemed to do no wrong. Among one of the community’s most texturally-focused groups, Gospel Gossip hasn’t skipped a beat: “Atlantic Blue” is rich in all the usual elements, but the production is top-notch this go around. This is music that you envision playing over the closing credits of a film — something that will send you off in prime fashion.

Gospel Gossip opens tonight alongside Chatham Rise for one killer bill including national acts Ringo Deathstar and Secret Colours. It all goes down at the Turf at 8 p.m.

Stream: Gospel Gossip - "Atlantic Blue" from Atlantic Blue 7"

Robust Worlds
I’ve been waiting for this album for months now it seems. After De Stijl released “Best Wishes” for the world to hear, it’s been in heavy rotation across Local Current and The Local Show. Now we’ve got the physical full-length in our hands, and Chris Rose should be proud of the work he’s done.

The Vampire Hands member has created a solo record of gorgeous atmospheric pop that recalls Lockett Pundt’s work as Lotus Plaza. The melodies across these songs seem to float above us like on “Human Stomp” — you can almost feel yourself levitating as the riffs ascend.

Leave it to De Stijl to release this work, one of the Twin Cities’ most prized (and reliable) record labels. Emotional Planet is available for pre-order now. Rose is heading out on tour right now; you can find the dates over at his Facebook page.

Stream: Robust Worlds - "Human Stomp" from Emotional Planet

Guante & Big Cats!
Both Guante and Big Cats have been massively busy this year, but of course they have found time to record another album. 2012 has been a tremendous year for local hip-hop, and the duo are adding to the consistent output with new release You Better Weaponize.

Guante has never sounded more confident or sincere. Big Cats has now defined himself as the preeminent beatmaker in the Twin Cities. As this point in their careers, the two have remarkable synergy. Add Chastity Brown onto a song like “Lightning,” and we’ve got a trifecta of harmony. As Guante builds the crescendo, Brown’s voice crashes into the action to take us to the end. All I gotta say is that she can do no wrong.

The album will be available November 6, election day. The release party will be November 9 at Hell's Kitchen.

Stream: Guante & Big Cats! - "Lightning feat. Chastity Brown" from You Better Weaponize