Grizzly Bear ends hibernation, offers details of new album
Other than a few radio and television performances, last year’s Friend EP, a rather stellar album from side-project Department of Eagles, and that opening spot for Radiohead’s summer tour, Grizzly Bear has been in “hibernation” for some time (Ok, so maybe not so much, but just go with it). However, come this spring, the New York outfit will be wide awake and ready to offer the long-awaited follow up to 2006’s Yellow House, as guitarist Edward Droste recently revealed in an exclusive interview with Drowned in Sound.
First and foremost, the album, which will be the band’s third overall, is 20 percent completed according to Ed, and since music creation relies perfectly on a mathematical formula, this percentage is accurate to .01 percent. Droste states that the band’s “just got a bit more tracking to do.” Part of this tracking will be the addition of a childrens’ choir the band hired! I’m thinking “15 Step,” but perhaps it’ll have more of a church like feel, after all the band is quite fond of echoey buildings. The choir will appear on three or four songs.
I’m excited already.
But wait, there’s more. Droste also went into detail about the album’s sound, specifically in comparison to its predecessor.
It’s definitely got more variety, higher highs and lower lows. [It's] much more dynamic and [has more] breadth in sound, not to mention a much more collaborative approach to the songwriting. With Yellow House, most of the songs were individually written by either Daniel [Rossen, guitarist] or myself beforehand and then brought to the table, whereas a lot of these were written as a band or brought in at very primitive levels and then fleshed out together, which means more shared lead vocals and back and forth interplay between everyone.
Additionally, the effort will pay much more attention to drums and a focus on capturing more of the band’s live sound, while still maintaining the layered atmospheres synonymous with Grizzly Bear. The band is also working with Nico Muhly, friend and composer, who is aiding the band to “put together arrangements” for a live performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra in February, and “surely some of those arrangements will make their way on the album.” And, finally to top it all off, Victoria Legrand of Beach House may have a spot as a backing vocalist on the previously debuted “Two Weeks” (see below).
Yeah, we know. By goods, we meant goods. Try not to get too excited just yet though; Droste estimates we won’t be getting the still untitled LP until April or May. Though considering all of this, plus the fact that In Ear Park was so damn good, we’re fine with waiting. After all, how can it not be good?
For now, here’s a few tracks expected to make an appearance on the forthcoming effort:
“While You Wait for the Others” (KCRW)
“Two Weeks” (Live on Letterman)
“Fine For Now” (Live at All Points West)
They impressed the hell out of me at All Points West. I actually first listened to them when Girl Talk remixed them, but I think they are the real deal.
The album is 80% done, they are working on the last 20%. Either way still exciting!
Feb 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
[...] As we first told you way back in November, the Brooklyn outfit’s third full-length endeavor is believed to be more diverse and dynamic in sound that any of the band’s previous material, thanks primarily to what guitarist Edward Droste described as a “collaborative approach”: With Yellow House, most of the songs were individually written by either Daniel [Rossen, guitarist] or myself beforehand and then brought to the table, whereas a lot of these were written as a band or brought in at very primitive levels and then fleshed out together, which means more shared lead vocals and back and forth interplay between everyone. [...]