Yesterday, we shared “Here Sometimes“, the first new Blonde Redhead song in years. Turns out it’s the opening track from Penny Sparkle, a new Blonde Redhead album. The New York trio’s follow-up to 2007’s 23, arrives on our shores September 14 and a day earlier in the rest of the world, via 4AD.
According to Pitchfork, The band recorded Penny Sparkle in New York and Stockholm, working with Fever Ray producers Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kid, whose synth-heavy background should have an interesting effect on Blonde Redhead’s luxuriant guitar clangor. Shoegaze legend Alan Moulder mixed, just as he did for 23.
In a press release, frontwoman Kazu Makino, had some metaphorical things to say about the new album: “I fell in love with the music like falling for someone you’ve known for a long time. It was dreamy and sometimes was very stormy. At times I felt like a shepherd who was trying to herd five stallions into a yard (unsuccessfully). I felt like I was a link to everyone. I remained still and the others were constantly moving around it. I am not sure what Penny Sparkle is but I hope I offered to them as much as they offered me. I know that we have never made a record this way and if I could go back in time, I would do it exactly the same way again.”
The band also has a dozen live shows scheduled across the globe in the months ahead, with more to come soon. I’m jealous that Phil will get to see them at The Capitol Hill Block Party in September July!
Blonde Redhead:
07-16 Ottawa, Ontario – Blues Festival
07-24 Seattle, WA – Capitol Hill Block Party
09-15 Geneva, Switzerland – La Batie
09-16 Paris, France – Bataclan
09-18 Brussels, Belgium – AB
09-19 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
09-21 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
09-22 Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
09-23 Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser
09-24 Helsinki, Finland – Virgin Oil Co.
09-29 London, England – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Capitol Hill Block Party is in July. Blonde Redhead plays on the 24th.