The Fiery Furnaces Preparing Two LPs for Release

Months ago, the Fiery Furnaces were busy working away on a double album with the title Garfield El, which was due out this summer. It was pushed back. They were also supposed to tour over the summer. Cancelled. Then nobody heard from them for a long time. Now, seems like Rough Trade has been able to round up the siblings Friedberger and pull some info out of them.
There will now no longer be a 2xCD Fiery Furnaces album, but two separate records that will be released within several months of each other. First up is Rehearsing My Choir, due October 25. This is the album that features assistance from Matt and Eleanor's grandmother, Olga Sarantos. Following that, tentatively scheduled for release in early 2006, will be Bitter Tea. TheFieryFurnaces.net reports that "while Bitter Tea is fully finished, the delay is due to the band still working on Rehearsing My Choir." So...uh...why don't they release the finished album now and the other one later? As always, expanded details are forthcoming.
Now, to prove they still exist: The Fiery Furnaces are already confirmed to play Austin City Limits in September, and Iceland's Airwaves Festival in October. Rough Trade says "the band will be announcing a U.S. tour during September and October shortly for those without passports or unlimited credit."
Somewhere, Rob Mitchum is smiling.

The Fiery Furnaces: http://www.thefieryfurnaces.com
Rough Trade: http://www.roughtradeamerica.com