SHORT CUTS: The London Apartments new CD is available to download right now...for FREE

When Justin Langlois debuted on the music scene several years ago with his one-man musical vision that is The London Apartments, he created quite a stir. His shows were big events, his 2005 debut album Romanticism Aside (on Sound of Pop Records) was on everyone's wish list and the media was taking notice. His angelic breath-pop meets minimalist electronic (self-dubbed "electro-gaze"), with hints of Sigur Ros, Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine (albeit slowed down and whispered), was showcased at both North By Northeast (NXNE) and Canadian Music Week (CMW). A tour ensued.

His second release, an EP in 2006, Logistics & Navigation, was released through Beggars Banquet, the UK indie giant who had previously released classic albums by bands such as Bauhaus, The Cult, Love and Rockets and much more of the romantic pre-goth bands. Videos for tracks from both releases found their way on to MuchMusic. Exclaim! Magazine, reviewing a track from the EP, calls The London Apartments "a sensation that is simply orgasmic". Surely it was only a matter of time before The London Apartments exploded.

But then he seemingly disappeared. No one saw any show listings. No one heard any new music for what seemed an eternity. An announcement in the summer of 2007 on his MySpace and website stated that "I've been trying to prepare myself for grad school and complete an album while working full-time. However, excuses are weak... I'm about 8 tracks complete at this point, a few more to fill out and then a release!"

Fans waited. Yet nothing seemed to emerge. After releasing two efforts in two years, The London Apartments had gone eerily quiet.

But that's hardly because Justin had grown complacent. And it's not like he hasn't had his hands full.

You see, he also happens to be a Master of Fine Arts student at the University of Windsor, where he's studying Intergrated Media. He's been heavily involved in the enviro-art project Green Corridor in Windsor, as well as Broken City Lab, described as "an interdisciplinary creative research group, engaging in projects that reimagine and disrupt existing conditions at a variety of levels, in an effort to fix a broken city."

Does that mean The London Apartments are now relegated to the "where are they now?" files?

Hardly.

Just like he appeared in 2005, silent, effortlessly and without warning, The London Apartments released a new album, Signals & Cities Are Forever, in January, almost a year and half after posting that summer note.

And here's the best part. You can own it for free. Released via his website, you can download the album in its entirety at his website.

It's already shot to the top of the charts at CJAM 91.5 FM and once again the buzz is crackling. Only time will tell if Langlois will take The London Apartments to the stage again, but one thing's for sure. He's been a busy man and although he may not be making music all the time, he's definitely doing his part to make Windsor more interesting.