Since we last paid a visit to Pumpkinland (i.e. Smashing Pumpkins' MySpace), Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has continued enthusiastically babbling nonsense about the progress of the band's MACHINA follow-up/reunion record.

Though the exact constituency of the band is still unknown, Chamberlin assures us via the Pumpkins' MySpace blog that, "The drums are finished," and that, "We have been very busy carving up the sonic landscape with oceans of guitars and a sea of fuzz bass. We are four songs deep and about a hundred guitars in!" Those wondering what sonic touchstones the record might have would do well to take a look at the following Chamberlin shout-out: "We would like to thank the Grateful Dead, Rush, [and] Billy Thorpe for their guidance in this hour of need."

Honestly, though the promise of engaging Pumpkin prog seems pretty empty at this point, they could do much worse.

According to an entry from the Pumpkins' webmistress, fans hungry to set sail on the band's guitar oceans will get the chance to see them live this summer at "some European festivals." Vagueness from the Pumpkins' camp? You don't say! In her defense, however, she explained, "As for which ones, that's still being finalized, so hold tight!"

The Pumpkins' webmistress also responded to the recent "leak" of four demo tracks allegedly from the recent studio sessions by saying, "OH! And those 'Baker Demo' leaks... well, we read it was a Brit band who was behind that. Don't worry Simon, no one's gonna sue you. The band got a kick out of the story." The Simon she refers to is the lead singer of Amy Blue, the London band who leaked their own songs masquerading as Pumpkins demos via a torrent site as a prank. Pretty clever, actually.

Source: Pitchfork