Updating a story first posted here yesterday (June 27), Neutral Milk Hotel principal Jeff Mangum has disavowed a Web posting attributed to him, which falsely referenced the progress on the reclusive artist's first new album since 1998's iconic "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea."

Longtime collaborator Robert Schneider, who fronts the Apples In Stereo, reached out to Mangum in an attempt to verify the posting, which was made on a Web site devoted to the Elephant 6 musical collective. Schneider then posted Mangum's reply on the site, which reads, "I am sorry to inform you that this is not my post. Could you please inform the good people ... that this is not my writing?"

Schneider's manager confirmed for Billboard.com the authenticity of Schneider's post and Mangum's reply.

As previously reported, Mangum shocked the crowd by appearing unannounced at Olivia Tremor Control's Aug. 2, 2005, show at New York's Bowery Ballroom, after which he appeared to be wiping away tears.

Sources say the artist is still in regular contact with Merge Records, which released "Aeroplane" and its 1996 predecessor, "On Avery Island," but that the potential release of new material has not been recently discussed.