Quite often, times of dormancy only seem so to those of us on the outside. The wheels never really stop turning. Such is the case for Magnolia Electric Co., which has a string of items lined up over the next months, including its first official release since 2007's Sojourner box set.

First for the band is an exclusive 7" titled It's Made Me Cry, which will be available first on April 18 as part of Record Store Day, an international event celebrating independently-owned record stores. Side A of the 7" features a tuplet of songs recorded over a weekend in October 2008 at Bloomington's Russian Recording. The songs serve as a lesson in the power of brevity - each a flaming arrow to the heart of some heavy emotions. Side B of It's Made Me Cry is the moody, instrumental "Protection Spell," recorded at Russian Recordings almost exactly a year prior to the other songs and featuring late bassist Evan Farrell. The band's proceeds from the 7" will benefit The Evan Farrell Memorial Fund.