Those awaiting David Lynch to shoot a proper, full-length follow-up to his 2006 film, "Inland Empire," will have to be patient. Right now, the experimental auteur is focusing on his music. 

Last heard on 2009's "Dark Night of the Soul," a collaboration with producer Danger Mouse and the late psychedelic roots artist Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse), the Los Angeles-based artist has released a pair of songs exclusively to iTunes. The tracks -- "Good Day Today" and "I Know" -- couldn't be more different. "Good Day Today" is a trancey electronic cut, while "I Know" goes for a more spooked, atmospheric rock feel.

Lynch has signed with British indie Sunday Best, a label run by DJ  Rob da Bank. The songs were recorded with engineer Dean Hurley, who has worked with Lynch on many of his films. Lynch says the goal is to release a full-length album of original music.

"We're working on a lot of things, and we hope to have an album soon," Lynch says. "All of this to me is an experiment. We were calling it kind of a modern blues -- music based on the blues. It's led to all sorts of different things, but I really want to do a modern blues album."

To get a sense of what Lynch considers "modern blues," sample "I Know" below. The keyboard has a vintage feel, but the manipulated spoken-word-like vocals lend a more warped, Tom Waits aura to the track. Mood-wise, Lynch fans will be in familiar territory, as the track comes complete with cold, frightening effects and mysterious lyrics. "She stopped to sing, since I went and did that thing," Lynch sings with a raspy vocal drawl.

"The advancement in digital things means there's a whole slew of possibilities," Lynch says. "I love organic phenomena. I love the real, rough sound of blues. I love a heavy guitar and great, strong drums. Then there's so many things that can be done to it that will modernize it."

In 2007, the Silver Lake singer-songwriter Ariana Delawari traveled to her parents' home in Kabul to record parts of her debut album, "Lion of Panjshir," as Afghanistan was under fire from Taliban-sympathizing suicide bombers. Under the watch of armed guards, she played her brand of California folk-rock with local masters of Afghan instruments, and found an unlikely helping hand from director David Lynch in mixing the record, which came out in October on Lynch's label. Read the full story, today's Column One, at this link.

-- August Brown

Photo by Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times