FYI, the release calendar has been given a major update and once again includes upcoming film releases. Let’s see if I can keep up with them this time around.

Loney Dear will release a new album on Polyvinyl in January.

I get a quite a few emails from PR agents of labels and bands. A lot of them tend to fall through the cracks for one reason or another. In the last 48 hours, I have received an unusual onslaught of messages from labels announcing new additions to their rosters. I don’t usually do this, but have decided to post a handful of those announcements.

• Band: Double Dagger
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• MP3: “The Psychic”
• Release: Currently recording
• Sell It: Baltimore trio Double Dagger utilize only a drum kit, bass guitar, and vocal chords to create a colossal wall of sound, that has been described alternately as “very loud pop”, post-punk, art punk, and “obnoxious.” A series of memorable performances, releases, and tours over the past several years has cemented their reputation as of one of the most exciting bands in the emerging Baltimore music scene. ~David Halstead (Thrill Jockey)

• Band: Fol Chen
• Label: Asthmatic Kitty
• MP3: “Cable T.V.”
• Release: Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made (2/3/09)
• Sell It: You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Presence” album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don’t sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children’s religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance. ~Fol Chen

• Band: Loney Dear
• Label: Polyvinyl
• MP3: “Airport Surroundings” (Stream)
• Release: Dear John (1/27/09)
• Sell It: Hailing from the small city of Jonkoping, Sweden, Loney Dear’s primary member Emil Svanängen first began making homemade recordings of delicate, folkish indie pop in the early 2000s. As Loney, Dear (the band has since deleted the comma from its name), Svanängen self-released three homemade CD-Rs through his website: River Fontana Redux, Citadel Band, and Sologne. As buzz developed through MP3 blogs and other new media manifestations, Sub Pop offered Svanängen a contract in 2006. The first proper Loney Dear album, Loney, Noir, was released in early 2007. ~Daniel Gill (Force Field PR)

• Band: Mountains
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• MP3: Check MySpace
• Release: Choral (2/17/09)
• Sell It: Mountains is often compared to artists such as Brian Eno and Fennesz citing their extended melodies and their unique broad guitar work. Mountains seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings and a plethora of acoustic instruments. The resulting soundscapes are broad in scope and rich in detail. The effect is incredibly sublime and hypnotic as the sounds slowly wrap themselves around each other and alter themselves in the mind of the listener. ~David Halstead (Thrill Jockey)

• Band: Sholi
• Label: Quarterstick
• MP3: Check MySpace
• Release: Self Titled (2/17/09)
• Sell It: San Francisco-based avant-rock trio featuring songwriter/guitarist Payam Bavafa, bassist Eric Ruud, and drummer Jonathon Bafus. With a delicate balance of intricate rhythms, impressive musicianship, and intimate, impressionistic lyrics, Sholi creates a unique blend of reposeful melody and turbulent measure unlike any other. ~Josh Zanger (Touch & Go/Quarterstick)

Did any of those descriptions intrigue you? The last Loney Dear album was promising and Mountains sound like something I’d enjoy.

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