Today marks the release of Punch Brothers’ new five-song EP, Ahoy!. Recorded during the Nashville sessions for their critically acclaimed 2012 album Who’s Feeling Young Now?, these tracks also were produced by Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Modest Mouse). This EP includes songs by Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Punch Brothers, and Mclusky, along with one traditional tune, arranged by Punch Brothers. The band's recent tour stop in Edinburgh led the Herald to exclaims that "this was the sort of event for which the term gig of the year was coined."

The new picture book from Natalie Merchant and award-winning children's book illustrator Barbara McClintock based on Leave Your Sleep, Merchant's double-album of classic children's poetry adapted to music, is out today. Frances Foster Books, an imprint of Farrar Straus Giroux and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, has published this beautiful hard-cover, 48-page, full-color book including a CD with 19 songs. It is now available in the Nonesuch Store.

Tuareg guitarist and singer Omara “Bombino” Moctar has recorded a new album with producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, which will be released in early 2013 on Nonesuch Records. Bombino and his band traveled to Nashville over the summer to record in Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville. Further details about the album and its release will be announced shortly, as will upcoming festival and tour dates.

Nonesuch Records wishes Jonny Greenwood a very happy birthday today, which also marks the UK release of his soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, The Master. The Times of London, which gives the film a perfect five stars, exclaims: "Jonny Greenwood's score is superb." The Daily Telegraph, which gives The Master five stars as well, calls the score "extraordinary." Drowned in Sound says that "yet again Jonny Greenwood has excelled himself." 

Nonesuch Records releases the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of John Adams’ Nixon in China, with the composer conducting, on Blu-ray and DVD together in one package on November 19, 2012; pre-order now. The Met’s production, staged by Peter Sellars, stars James Maddalena as Richard Nixon, a role he created at the opera’s world premiere 25 years ago and has since performed at international leading opera houses. Nixon in China was recorded and broadcast live in movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD on February 12, 2011—10 days after the opera received its Met premiere.

Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film The Master is out now on vinyl, featuring 12 tracks pressed on 140-gram vinyl plus the full album on CD. Following the album's CD release in September, The New Yorker called the score "rich and inventive" and Rolling Stone said the film's "visual poetry is matched by Jonny Greenwood's haunting, hypnotic score."

The Black Keys launched their Australian tour at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre Sunday night. The tour continues with two nights at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, followed by shows in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, and two nights in Melbourne. The Black Keys head to New Zealand next for tour stops in Auckland and Wellington. Their new digital EP, Tour Rehearsal Tapes, is now available in the Nonesuch Store as MP3 and FLAC. The Independent says the tracks "underscore the explosive musical energy between guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney."

Nonesuch Records releases Punch Brothers’ five-song EP, Ahoy!, on November 13, 2012. Recorded during the Nashville sessions for their critically acclaimed 2012 album Who’s Feeling Young Now?, these tracks also were produced by Jacquire King. The EP includes songs by Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Punch Brothers, and Mclusky, along with one traditional tune, arranged by Punch Brothers. Pre-orders include an instant download of the track “Another New World,” which you can preview here; a limited number of CDs will be signed by the band.

London-based singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas returns to the US next month for three headlining shows: in the DC area, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. La Havas also makes her debut performance on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 8 and on Conan November 14. Nonesuch has just released an iTunes-exclusive live EP, featuring La Havas' performance at London’s iTunes Festival last month, with five songs from her set opening for Alicia Keys.

Tour Rehearsal Tapes, a new digital EP from The Black Keys, is out today on Nonesuch Records. Available exclusively on iTunes for the first two weeks, the EP features six songs recorded live in the studio during December 2011. The EP comes as the duo’s acclaimed 2011 full-length album, El Camino, is officially certified RIAA Platinum in the US. It is also Platinum in Ireland and UK; double Platinum in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand; and Gold in Belgium and France. The band’s 2010 breakthrough album, Brothers, is also certified RIAA Platinum.

Natalie Merchant has teamed up with award-winning children's book illustrator Barbara McClintock for a new picture book based on Leave Your Sleep, Merchant's album of classic children's poetry adapted to music. Frances Foster Books will publish this beautiful hard cover, 48-page, full-color book including a CD with 19 songs, available November 13, 2012. It is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store. Watch a video preview of the book here.