After trotting out their "Little Red Hen" single earlier in the year, Jesse Keeler and Al-P have formally announced some big plans for MSTRKRFT: a new album is coming out this summer. The production duo's first full-length release in seven years is called Operator, and you can dial it all up on July 22 via Last Gang Records.
An interview with the band explains that Death From Above 1979 bassist Keeler and producer Al-P have been working on Operator since 2013. The 10-song set was inspired by military jargon Keeler had come across online.
"While browsing military related websites and blogs, mostly consisting of vets talking to each other like any civilian I suppose, I noticed repeated reference to something they called 'operator culture,'" he told Billboard. "It seemed to be something that was sometimes laughed at, sometimes caused disdain, but was referenced constantly and seemed to be understood by everyone. I came to believe the operator concept is one of detachment."
The collection follows 2009's Fist of God. While that album featured guest nods from Ghostface Killah and John Legend, MSTRKRFT tapped punk icon and culture critic Ian Svenonius (Chain and the Gang, Nation of Ulysses) to add vocals to Operator's "Party Line."
Al-P noted that the song had begun as an instrumental, though they quickly realized that the tune "demanded a vocal with a certain swagger."
He continued: "Ian was able re-contextualize the title and make it work with the lyrics he wrote, which became something we connected with personally, and fit perfectly with the entire album as a body of work."
You can hear the sassy, synth-slathered dance track below, where you'll also find the duo's upcoming tour dates.
Tour dates:
06/01 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
06/02 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
06/04 Chicago, IL - Double Door
06/08 Denver, CO - Club Vinyl
06/10 San Francisco, CA -The Independent
06/11 Los Angeles, CA - Exchange
06/13 Ottawa, ON - Ritual Nightclub
06/14 Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
An interview with the band explains that Death From Above 1979 bassist Keeler and producer Al-P have been working on Operator since 2013. The 10-song set was inspired by military jargon Keeler had come across online.
"While browsing military related websites and blogs, mostly consisting of vets talking to each other like any civilian I suppose, I noticed repeated reference to something they called 'operator culture,'" he told Billboard. "It seemed to be something that was sometimes laughed at, sometimes caused disdain, but was referenced constantly and seemed to be understood by everyone. I came to believe the operator concept is one of detachment."
The collection follows 2009's Fist of God. While that album featured guest nods from Ghostface Killah and John Legend, MSTRKRFT tapped punk icon and culture critic Ian Svenonius (Chain and the Gang, Nation of Ulysses) to add vocals to Operator's "Party Line."
Al-P noted that the song had begun as an instrumental, though they quickly realized that the tune "demanded a vocal with a certain swagger."
He continued: "Ian was able re-contextualize the title and make it work with the lyrics he wrote, which became something we connected with personally, and fit perfectly with the entire album as a body of work."
You can hear the sassy, synth-slathered dance track below, where you'll also find the duo's upcoming tour dates.
Tour dates:
06/01 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
06/02 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
06/04 Chicago, IL - Double Door
06/08 Denver, CO - Club Vinyl
06/10 San Francisco, CA -The Independent
06/11 Los Angeles, CA - Exchange
06/13 Ottawa, ON - Ritual Nightclub
06/14 Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe Tavern
