In the early days of this year, it looks like Merchandise frontman Carson Cox is going to be keeping busy with his side project Death Index, and he’s not the only member of the band who’s setting out on his own. Guitarist David Vassalotti is getting ready to drop a new solo album called Broken Rope. It’s actually Vassalotti’s second solo LP; he released an out-of-print one called Book Of Ghosts back in 2011. Vassalotti wrote, performed, recorded, and produced the new album himself; he also did all the art design. “Ines De Castro,” the first song we’ve heard, is a drifting lo-fi new-wave ballad, with Vassalotti singing tremulously over a rickety drum machine and a searching guitar line. Check it out below.

Broken Rope is out 2/12 on Wharf Cat. Pre-order it here.