Bartees Strange has announced his third LP, Horror. The follow-up to 2022’s Farm to Table is due for release on February 14 via 4AD. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the new single ‘Sober’, which follows the previously unveiled ‘Lie 95’. The track is accompanied by a video from director Ricardo Betancourt that draws inspiration from Sly & the Family Stone’s 1974 Soul Train performance. Check it out below and scroll down for the album cover and tracklist.
Strange produced ‘Sober’ with Jack Antonoff, Yves Rothman, and Lawrence Rothman. “This song is about falling short in a relationship, over and over and drinking because of it,” he explained in a statement. “I think this is something a lot of people can probably relate to. Being in love, but not being the best at showing it or feeling successful within it. And being afraid that this is something you’ll just always deal with because you never really saw a better example of how love works.”
Strange began working on the album at his home studio, laid down parts of it during a session with Yves and Lawrence Rothman, and finished it with Antonoff. Strange previously contributed to the self-titled album by Antonoff’s band Bleachers, which came out earlier this year. He was also featured in the soundtracks for Apple TV’s The New Look, produced and curated by Bleachers, as well as A24’s I Saw the TV Glow.
“In a way I think I made this record to reach out to people who may feel afraid of things in their lives too,” Strange reflected. “For me it’s love, locations, cosmic bad luck, or that feeling of doom that I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. I think that it’s easier to navigate the horrors and strangeness of life once you realize that everyone around you feels the same. This album is just me trying to connect. I’m trying to shrink the size of the world. I’m trying to feel close – so I’m less afraid.”
Horror Cover Artwork:
Horror Tracklist:
1. Too Much
2. Hit It Quit It
3. Sober
4. Baltimore
5. Lie 95
6. Wants, Needs
7. Lovers
8. Doomsday Buttercup
9. 17
10. Loop Defenders
11. Norf Gun
12. Backseat Banton