Dear Companion,out February 16thon Sub Pop Records, is collaboration between three Kentucky musicians: the songs are written and performed by Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore, produced by and featuring Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk.

Recorded in the first half of 2009 in their home state,Dear Companionexplores their ties to the place they love and aims to draw attention to the problem of mountaintop removal coal mining and its impact on the people and heritage of central Appalachia.

A portion of the proceeds fromDear Companionwill benefit Appalachian Voices, an organization devoted to endingmountaintop removaland finding a better way forward.

Learn more at:www.ilovemountains.orgorwww.subpop.com

About the Artists

Ben Solleeinfused his much-lauded 2008 debut albumLearning to Bend, with his unique synthesis of folk, soul,and bluegrass.No Depressionput the album on their top five of 2008,Pastelisted him on The Best ofWhat's Next, NPR raved, and music blogs continue to provide Sollee a steady torrent of praise. Hisimpressive debut also landed him prominent spots on the festival circuit, including Austin City Limits andBonnaroo, as well as a riveting set on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

After serving in the Peace Corps,Daniel Martin Moorewon over Sub Pop Records in 2007 with an unsolicited demo of deceptively simplesongs, and found himself working with producer Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, U2, The Shins) on his first album, the 2008 releaseStray Age.

WithStray Age, Daniel became a critical darling, eliciting comparisons from Nick Drake toM. Ward.

The album’s producer,Yim Yames, renowned guitarist/singer/songwriter from Monsters of Folk and My Morning Jacket needs little in the way of further introduction.

About Mountaintop Removal

Mountaintop removal is a radical form of surface mining that uses massive explosives to blast off several hundred feet of mountaintop in order to expose and remove thin seams of coal. The resulting rubble, or overburden, is then pushed into nearby valleys, burying streams. This has devastating impacts on the land, air and water of local communities. To date, this practice has destroyed more than 500 mountains and buried more than 2000 miles of streams.

About Appalachian Voices &iLoveMountains.org

Appalachian Voices creatediLoveMountains.orgin conjunction with local, state, and regional partners to grow and support the national movement to end mountaintop removalcoalmining and help create a prosperous future for the region.

Willa Mays, Executive Director for Appalachian Voices said, “We realized the most effective way to end mountaintop removal mining is to create a national movement of people who love America's Appalachian Mountains. We thank Ben, Daniel, Yim and Sub-Pop for helping grow this movement.”