Indie-rock supergroup The New Pornographers have announced their tenth studio album, The Former Site Of, scheduled for release on March 27 via Merge Records. To mark the announcement, the band has shared the track “Votive,” a song built around frontperson A.C. Newman’s mandolin that evolves from atmospheric synths into a wide-open jam. The track is accompanied by an animated video from Michael Arthur, capturing the song’s lyrical imagery and the infectious refrain shared by Newman and Kathryn Calder. The album collects ten stories of individuals at personal and societal extremes, following the success of their recent limited 7-inch single, “Ballad Of The Last Payphone.”
Of the making of the album, Newman shares:
“Having time in my studio really opened things up. I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first – just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible – before bringing it to the band and running from there.”
The core lineup of Newman, Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, and Todd Fancey is joined for the first time by legendary session drummer Charley Drayton, known for his work with The Rolling Stones and Fiona Apple. Newman initially developed the record in his home studio, a process that allowed him to refine the foundation of the songs before involving the full band. Fans can currently pre-order the album in exclusive “Mai Tai” and “Spilled Ink” vinyl variants, with Josh Wells (Destroyer) set to join the group as touring drummer for their upcoming spring dates.
