Kevin Bronson on October 21st, 2008

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I generally don’t get too excited about EP releases — they’re more snapshots of band’s work or a trial balloon rather than an artistic statement — but today’s inaugural release, “The Color by Number EP,” by L.A. duo Glacier Hiking merits some special attention, at least for the backstory.

Glacier Hiking is the brainchild of singer Ross Golan and the estimable multi-instrumentalist Tommy Walter (Abandoned Pools, Eels). The collaboration began in late 2005, with Golan still smarting over the major-label nightmare he endured with his band Ross Golan & Molehead, whose 2004 album (“Reagan Baby”) of

• ||| Download: “Shotgun”

politically charged indie-hop died from its delayed release. In the past two years, Golan and Walter have written a couple of dozen seemingly radio-ready electro-rockers with big hooks and choruses, and, while there have been flirtations with labels, little commerce transpired, except for a publishing deal with Lionsgate Film.

“I learned to be patient from years of impatience,” Golan says now, explaining Glacier Hiking’s new strategy: Between now and late 2009, the band will release four EPs (“one per season”), continue to push its music for movie and TV licenses and market and sell it through the dynamic new Web portal Topspin. “If there’s interest a year from now,” we can release an album,” Golan says.

Glacier Hiking’s first single, the fairly irresistible “Save Some,” certainly will have some traction — it appears in the movie “My Best Friend’s Girl” — and, on the EP version, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic sings the big hook. The big anthems on this initial release don’t mean, however, that Golan is shying away from jumping into the political fray.

The band’s next show is Jan. 21 at the Troubadour — the day after the presidential inauguration. “I scheduled it that way on purpose,” Golan says. “It’ll be a celebration. We have to be confident we are all going in the right direction.”