Despite just releasing his debut solo album, You And Me, Kevin Barker is far from a newcomer to the scene. For the last few years he’s been recording, touring and collaborating with Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Antony and the Johnsons, to name just a few. Now he has assembled an unbelievable group of musicians for You And Me. Produced by Thom Monahan (Vetiver, Devendra Banhart), the album features Pat Sansone (Wilco), Joanna Newsom, Jonathan Wilson (Elvis Costello, Jenny Lewis), Eric Johnson (The Shins), and Otto Hauser (Vetiver, Espers).

In college, Baker became interested in the fingerstyle guitar playing of John Fahey and Bert Jansch. He began to write songs and recorded under the name Currituck County for Teenbeat Records, Troubleman Unlimited, and Track and Field Organisation in the UK. He then moved to Brooklyn where he attended film school at Columbia University and began playing with Devendra, Antony, and Vetiver.

Coming in at just under four minutes, the title track of his new album (listen & download below) is a soft and sweet cut showcasing Barker’s smooth vocals as he sweetly sings, “There’s a dream I see / Running down to the sea / It’s you and it’s me.” A great lulling track, perfect for a snowy Saturday night by the fire with a cup of tea.

Kevin Barker – “You & Me”

You & Me will be released by Gnomonsong in January.

Kevin Barker: myspace

Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway, from some band called Radiohead, will once again back Neil Finn for a follow up to the acclaimed 7 Worlds Collide, a project supporting international development organization Oxfam.

Seven years ago O’Brien and Selway were invited by Finn to participate in a special series of concerts in New Zealand under the banner Seven Worlds Collide. Also returning from that original Seven Worlds Collide lineup will be founder of the Smiths and member of Modest Mouse Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, songwriter and violinist Lisa Germano, and Liam Finn. Artists newly joining the project include Jeff Tweedy, John Stirrat, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone from Wilco, and New Zealand songwriters Bic Runga and Don McGlashan. Behind the mixing desk will be master recording engineer Jim Scott. And, as if the project weren’t rockstar-studded enough, more names will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.

The album will be recorded over the next few months in Auckland’s Roundhead Studios and is due for release in 2009. Like its predecessor, the project will also see a series of concerts featuring many of the artists included in the lineup. The shows will take place in Auckland early in the New Year. As soon as more details are available, you can be sure to catch the news here.