Since the last time folky rock duo Wye Oak released an album, 2011's Civilian, singer Jenn Wasner temporarily turned her attention to her synth-pop side-project Dungeonesse. It seems that these influences have been absorbed into her work with Wye Oak, since the forthcoming Shriek is apparently a departure from their usual sound.
Due out April 29 through Merge, the album was mixed and co-produced by Nicolas Vernhes (Deerhunter, Spoon, Dirty Projectors) at his Rare Book Room studio in Brooklyn. It was written while Wasner and bandmate Andy Stack, who were previously both based in Baltimore, but now live on opposite sides of the country. They developed ideas by sending ideas back and forth from their respective home bases.
Wasner, who previously played guitar in the band, has now switched to bass, with Stack handling the brunt of the instrumentation on keyboard. A press release describes the sound like this: "With her [Wasner's] phrasing freed, now it is often Andy who interacts with Jenn's vocals, playing syncopated and meditative keyboard parts, and the duo's collaborative arrangements provide a backdrop in which both the arcs of melodies and the new rhythmic elements flourish."
The album cover is above and the tracklist is below. Scroll past that to listen to the offbeat-accenting cut "The Tower," which is accompanied by simple, flickering visuals.
Shriek is available to pre-order here. The first 400 vinyl copies will come on orange wax.
In support of the album, Wye Oak have also announced a North American tour, which includes a few Canadian dates. You can get the details below.
Shriek:
1. Before
2. Shriek
3. The Tower
4. Glory
5. Sick Talk
6. Schools of Eyes
7. Despicable Animal
8. Paradise
9. I Know the Law
10. Logic of Color
Tour dates:
03/03 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern *
03/04 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel *
03/05 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom *
03/06 Savannah, GA – Savannah Stopover
03/07 Chattanooga, TN – JJ's Bohemia *
03/08 Oxford, MS – Proud Larry's *
03/09 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon *
03/20 London, England – Lexington
03/21 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique
03/23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – MC Theater
03/25 Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
03/28 Zurich, Switzerland – M4M Music Festival
03/29 Istanbul, Turkey – Salon IKSV
04/11 Indio, CA – Coachella
04/18 Indio, CA - Coachella
05/02 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small's Theatre
05/03 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
05/05 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
05/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
05/07 New York, NY – Webster Hall
05/09 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
05/10 Montreal, QC – Il Motore
05/11 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
05/13 Chicago, IL – Metro
05/14 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/15 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
05/16 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
05/17 Lawrence, KS – The Granada
05/18 St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
05/20 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
05/21 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
* with Future Islands, Ed Schrader's Music Beat
Due out April 29 through Merge, the album was mixed and co-produced by Nicolas Vernhes (Deerhunter, Spoon, Dirty Projectors) at his Rare Book Room studio in Brooklyn. It was written while Wasner and bandmate Andy Stack, who were previously both based in Baltimore, but now live on opposite sides of the country. They developed ideas by sending ideas back and forth from their respective home bases.
Wasner, who previously played guitar in the band, has now switched to bass, with Stack handling the brunt of the instrumentation on keyboard. A press release describes the sound like this: "With her [Wasner's] phrasing freed, now it is often Andy who interacts with Jenn's vocals, playing syncopated and meditative keyboard parts, and the duo's collaborative arrangements provide a backdrop in which both the arcs of melodies and the new rhythmic elements flourish."
The album cover is above and the tracklist is below. Scroll past that to listen to the offbeat-accenting cut "The Tower," which is accompanied by simple, flickering visuals.
Shriek is available to pre-order here. The first 400 vinyl copies will come on orange wax.
In support of the album, Wye Oak have also announced a North American tour, which includes a few Canadian dates. You can get the details below.
Shriek:
1. Before
2. Shriek
3. The Tower
4. Glory
5. Sick Talk
6. Schools of Eyes
7. Despicable Animal
8. Paradise
9. I Know the Law
10. Logic of Color
Tour dates:
03/03 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern *
03/04 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel *
03/05 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom *
03/06 Savannah, GA – Savannah Stopover
03/07 Chattanooga, TN – JJ's Bohemia *
03/08 Oxford, MS – Proud Larry's *
03/09 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon *
03/20 London, England – Lexington
03/21 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique
03/23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – MC Theater
03/25 Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
03/28 Zurich, Switzerland – M4M Music Festival
03/29 Istanbul, Turkey – Salon IKSV
04/11 Indio, CA – Coachella
04/18 Indio, CA - Coachella
05/02 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small's Theatre
05/03 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
05/05 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
05/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
05/07 New York, NY – Webster Hall
05/09 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
05/10 Montreal, QC – Il Motore
05/11 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
05/13 Chicago, IL – Metro
05/14 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/15 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
05/16 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
05/17 Lawrence, KS – The Granada
05/18 St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
05/20 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
05/21 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
* with Future Islands, Ed Schrader's Music Beat
