— On January 31, the New York avant-pop band Hospitality will release their new self-titled album via Merge. Check out album cut “Friends of Friends” here.
— Giant Single: Profile Records Rap Anthology collects 31 tracks released on the pioneering New York rap label Profile Records from 1981 to 1996. It’s out January 31 via Sony. It features Run DMC, DJ Quik, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, Onyx, Camp Lo, Rammellzee and K-Rob, and more.
— On February 6, Pet Shop Boys will release the compilation Format via Parlophone. The 38-track release collects B-sides and bonus tracks released from 1996 to 2009.
— New York’s Ecstatic Music Festival takes place February 4 to March 28, featuring “contemporary post-classical” collaborations between indie rock artists and classical ensembles. In addition to the Mountain Goats with Anonymous 4, other performers include David Byrne, Dan Deacon, Nick Zammuto, Glasser, Oneida, Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Mirah, Rhys Chatham, and Greg Saunier of Deerhoof.