Pitchfork

When most of us hang with our friends, we... do what? Crack open a few beers? Play some video games? Talk philosophy, if we're feeling ambitious/high?

But when Baltimore bros Dave Heumann and Nathan Bell pal around, they make sweet instrumental guitar duets together and record them. This might have something to do with the fact that Heumann is the leader of Arbouretum and Bell was a member of Lungfish from 1996 to 2003. Call it creative restlessness or something.

Going under the name Human Bell (get it?), Heumann and Bell will release their self-titled debut LP via Thrill Jockey on January 29. The album features contributions from Matt Riley (The Moss Collector), Michael Turner (Warmer Milks, Speed to Roam), Peter Townshend (Speed to Roam, Bonnie "Prince" Billy), and Ryan Rapsys (Euphone, Ambulette), on various instruments including "quartz singing bowl" and guitar, vibraphone and kalimba, and "orbital spirit guitar," according to a press release. Production on Human Bell comes from Paul Oldham and Antony West, with Tortoise's John McEntire handling the mixing.

Human Bell also have a pair of dates coming up this month to celebrate the album's release.

Human Bell:

01 A Change in Fortunes
02 Splendor and Concealment
03 Hymn Amerika
04 Outposts of Oblivion
05 Hanging From the Rafters
06 Ephphatha (Be Opened)
07 The Singing Trees

Human Bell:

01-13 New York, NY - Pianos
01-20 Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar (Upstairs)