Sylvan Esso have announce their first new album in four years. Ow ∞ will be released on September 11 via their own label Psychic Hotline. It includes the previously released single ‘Hot Slob’ – one of their very best – as well as the new track ‘Concrete Glen’, which samples ‘Svefn-g-englar’ by Sigur Rós (“a band that soundtracked much of [Amelia] Meath’s teenage makeouts,” according to a press release). Check out a video for it below, and scroll down for the album cover and tracklist.
Ow ∞ marks not only the longest time the duo has spent on a record, but the largest community of musicians they’ve assembled for one. The list of collaborators includes Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Dijon), BJ Burton (Bon Iver, Charli XCX), Matt Douglas (the Mountain Goats), Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Jake Luppen (Hippo Campus, Samia), TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood, Neneh Cherry), James Mapley-Brittle (GRRL), Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Bon Iver), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes), and Joe Westerlund (Megafaun).
“One of my favourite ways of producing in general is to come up with an idea and then take out a third of it,” Meath explained. “One, it makes things interesting and exciting, but also it makes your ear ask a question. And it kind of forces the listener to be creative as well. To try to fill that space with something, which I find as a listener to be really exciting and interesting. Particularly with pop music, because it’s all about fulfilling a promise. You know this melodic structure, you know, we’re going to the four here. Not doing it is always the thing that makes people fall in love with a song or a person.
She continued: “Living hurts forever, and then it stops. But also it’s a little silly. And that’s how I feel. If you’re going to keep participating in the world, and in your life, you have to commit to being hurt. And if you aren’t putting yourself in the way of potential hurt, you miss out on a lot of potential opportunities. So in some ways it’s like a rallying cry, saying ‘I’m gonna get hurt forever, and that’s okay.’”
Ow ∞ Cover Artwork:
Ow ∞ Tracklist:
1. Entertainment & Coca-Cola
2. Flood Season
3. Hot Slob
4. Concrete Glen
5. Back Again
6. Ribbon
7. Sledge
8. Right to Left
9. Good at Pain
10. Jessica
11. On & On
12. Plastic Sword
