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The Autumn Defense, Sea and Cake's Sam Prekop Announce New Albums

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 10, 2010 8:30PM

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Photo by Mike Jorgensen, via The Autumn Defense MySpace page.
Polite, unassuming fans of polite, unassuming and prodigiously talented indie-rock dudes, take note! Two offshoots of your favorite acts, Wilco and The Sea and Cake, are set to release new material this fall.

First up on the new release schedule are Wilco members John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, who comprise chamber-pop group The Autumn Defense. According to CMJ, the band is set to release their fourth album, titled Once Around, on November 2nd. The group’s website states that they have tentative tour plans of the East and West coasts around the time of Around's scheduled release. Their last effort, 2007’s self-titled album, proved to be a sumptuous affair filled with Beatles-and-Bread-esque melodies, which made for the surprising pop confection. We’re looking forward to this one.

Not to be outdone on the new release front, fellow Chicago-based musician Sam Prekop, known for leading post-rockers The Sea and Cake, is set to unleash his third solo album, Old Punch Card, on September 7. Card is Prekop’s first album bearing his name in five years, though he’s been plenty busy with his day job, who’ll also be opening up tour dates for Broken Social Scene this fall. (John McEntire, who drums for Sea and Cake and played on BSS's new record, has got his hands full, to be sure).

To celebrate Card’s upcoming release, Thrill Jockey released an MP3 of “The Silhouettes”, which you can download below. “The Silhouettes” is a minimalist, Kraut-like excursion in looping, instrumental electronica that rewards patience for listeners eager to unpack its sonic textures. No matter which group you go for, fall’s looking pretty good for Chicago music fans.

MP3: Sam Prekop "The Silhouettes"