In early February, after a four-year break, beloved Vancouver indie-pop band the Salteens announced plans to release two new songs per month, available for free from the band’s Web site (www.salteens.com/). Things went swimmingly at first. On February 3, the songs “Hallowed Ways” and “Sunnyside St.” were posted. This was followed on March 2 by “Everything They Know About Us” and “Don’t Break My Heart”. Then things went a little too swimmingly when, in late March, Salteens producer Todd Simko discovered his New Westminster house had suffered a flood. Over the years, his basement studio has hosted Xavier Rudd and Kevin Kane, among others.

“The water-supply line ruptured,” Simko told the Straight. Fortunately, no equipment was damaged, but Simko is now in the thick of renovations, while the Salteens have elected to stand by their producer and resume recording once things are running again in a couple of weeks.