Indie-rock duo Quasi — keyboardist/guitarist/singer Sam

Coomes (ex-Heatmiser) and drummer Janet Weiss

(Sleater-Kinney) — will release their fourth album in

September. Field Studies (Up Records) includes a song called

"Birds," not to be confused with the nature recording of the same name

on their acclaimed third album, Featuring "Birds" (1998).

Singer/songwriter Elliott Smith plays bass on several tracks on

the new album, returning a favor to the group, which backed him on his

last tour.