Neutral Milk Hotel Reunite & Announce Tour

After a return to playing live last year that drew thousands of eager devotees to his shows across the Unites States, songwriter Jeff Mangum has reunited his hugely celebrated outfit Neutral Milk Hotel, it was announced this morning, with the line-up of the group who played on the band's classic 1998 album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea getting back together for a series of dates later this year.

Mangum, Scott Spillane, Jeremy Barnes and Julian Koster have announced three US dates as well as one in Taipei and one in Tokyo, though they have assured fans that there are more dates to be announced. Rumours are already circulating about the band making a trip to Australia after they visit Japan at the end of this year, though they remain nothing more than mere speculation at this point in time.

These shows will be the first dates the band have played together in 15 years, when they were undoubtedly a well-respected outfit but one that possessed nothing even close to the fan base that they have accrued since splitting.

Here's a video from them back in the day:

Here's Mangum performing solo last year:

And here's an amazing clip from Parks & Recreation:

Parks and Recreation Neutral Milk Hotel Shout from Mango Nebula on Vimeo.

The only other information, apart from details as to who one needs to contact to book the band, was this statement, which makes no sense.

"and of water course womb rume is a wandering the welkin woman whose fune caul is all umbilical cord code that comes equipped with read volve vît curtains that čun seel my văl én tich radio reason in remembrance of mademoiselle gabrielle and her wone tym pad lock of burd language as it borders on twin tolk the wolk king wall of woolpack pigeons pointing to the fly blind readers riddle and his rian boh"

Can anyone translate this for us? We're pretty sure it says "G'day blokes and sheilas we're coming to Australia to play shows in December. How do we get on the Meredith bill?", but we're a little rusty...

The dates, if you're thinking about a holiday, are as follows. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to the Children of the Blue Sky.

Tuesday 22 October - 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA (with Elf Power)
Wednesday 23 October- 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA (with Half Japanese)
Friday 25 October - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Asheville, NC (with Half Japanese and Daniel Johnston)
Thursday 28 November    Hostess Club, Taipei
Sunday 1 December - Hostess Club Weekender, Tokyo