It's not been a long time since the beautiful Scots - Travis released their long-time anticipated 5th studio album The Boy With No Name which to me has been underrated within the ocean of new records drifting all around in 2007- and maybe due to the not spot on single choices. Fans would know how long we had to wait for that rescue record to take Travis out of shadow after more than 3 year of wait following 12 Memories (aka musical perfectness no matter what 'they' say). A year and a few has been past and the nicest band on the earth who is known as Travis are now releasing a brand new album -number 6 -expected to be out in summer of 2008. One year lap might look a little short especially to those who have had long yearnings for Travis in the past, yes. But the band have achieved many things during this little time. World touring for The Boy With No Name, teaming up with Claes Bjorklund in both touring and making of the new record, three singles - with praiseful videos, calling it a day with long-standing label Independiente, recording brand new songs for the new album from London to NY, Portland; working with the producer Emery Dobyns in due subject, publishing plenty of studio blogs on the recording session frequently and -this one is for Dougie only- becoming a father to a little blonde boy!...A new song 'J. Smith' from the upcoming new album 'Ode to J. Smith' is debuted on Nic Harcourt's KCRW Radio Show - Morning Becomes Eclectic on May 1st to receive handful praises from the fans already. J. Smith is about a nameless character like the rest of the whole album. Hence a very common name such 'J. Smith' is chosen to bless odes along. It is a well rounded, versatile tune with too much happening in; those missed Andy solos as in the debut album Good Feeling, imaginative - melodramatic lyrics distilling through the dreamy chords as in The Man Who, catchy chorus echoing with Fran's colorful singing Oh-Ohs as in The Invisible Band, a unique heroic choir section presenting a charming fest to ears, an over 30 secs captiving outro, noisy riffs, noisy riffs and noisy riffs...! In the studio blogs Fran describes the birth of this song like: 'This song is, for me, where the whole record turned a corner during the writing process. It came from a riff I played whilst trying out a guitar pedal, sitting on the bust up old sofa in the vintage and rare guitar shop in Denmark Street, London.' It is good!Can't help thinking how moving and energetic this tune will sound live! Speaking of live, as part of the new tour for the new album, Travis have announced plenty of new dates most of which are places they are to play for the first time ever. What making me thrill on an excessive level is that they are starting the tour in Istanbul at the end of June. First ever Travis show in the town that has already started driving hundreds of fans happily crazy! Years of thirst to Travis to be filled only in less than two month from now.Here are the recent dates added to agenda:27 June - Binboamania Festival - Istanbul, Turkey4 July - Terre des Neuvas Festival - Brottany, France10 July - Montreux Jazz Festival - Montreux, Switzerland16 July - B-1 - Moscow, Russia18 July - Positivus Festival - Salacgriva, Latvia25 July - Fuji Rock Festival - Neaba Ski Resort, Japan26 July - Pentaport Rock Festival - Incheon City, Korea16 August - V Festival 2008 - Weston Park / Staffordshire, UK17 August - V Festival 2008 - Hylands Park / Chelmsford, UK30 August - Døgnvillfestivalen -Tromsø, NorwayAnd only to show how rocking Travis turns on the stage, here is a short clip made by one and only Nigel Godrich. Beware ladies and gentlemen! Travis on the way. Coming full throttle to rock some fancy socks! -ChampersP.S. For further information check travisonline.com. Don't miss out on the blogs posted by Fran and Dougie. Pleasure to read all the way.