Four years after their last album, the Interpol they announce today This Mirror Weighs a Ton. The album will be released on August 28th and will be the band's first project for Partisan Records distributed via Virgin Music Group. In conjunction with the announcement, the band releases the two songs that open the album, the title track and “See Out Loud”.
Produced by Andrew Wyatt (ROSALÍA, Charli XCX) and mixed by David Fridmann (Sleater-Kinney, MGMT), This Mirror Weighs a Ton expands Interpol's sound palette thanks to the introduction of strings, wind instruments, layered vocal harmonies, acoustic guitars and experimental sound design solutions, without giving up the characteristic rhythmic and melodic approach that has always distinguished the band. The album was recorded at Wyatt's studio on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, marking the group's return to their hometown to make a record after more than a decade.
“This Mirror Weighs a Ton” and “See Out Loud” stage a fascinating game of contrasts: Interpol expand the boundaries of their sonic identity without losing the pulse that has made them an essential band. The title track develops like a slow revelation, between distorted bass lines, undulating movements, ghostly vocal textures and an immersive sound design that bends the band's typical musical language towards broader and subtly alienating territories. “See Out Loud”instead, strikes with tense rhythms, sharp guitars and that nocturnal charge imprinted in Interpol's DNA, here further enriched by layered vocal harmonies and continuous changes of perspective. The song is also enhanced by a rare vocal performance from Daniel Kessler, his first since “PDA”contained in the debut album Turn On the Bright Lights.
The album's title arose from the vocal improvisation process of Paul Banksin which melodies and words take shape simultaneously. Themes such as reflection, perception and emotional tension run throughout the work, while the cover features a work by Addie Wagenknecht currently held in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Over the past two years Interpol have remained consistently active, headlining arenas and festivals across Europe, Latin America and Asia. At the same time, streaming ratings have reached record levels and the band's audience continues to grow around the world. One of the most significant moments of this period was the largest concert of their career in Mexico City, where they performed in front of over 200,000 people.
Interpol also attended the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival earlier this year, where they premiered songs from the new album, including “See Out Loud” and “Wings on Fire.” The band will kick off a 23-date North American headline tour next month. Tickets are already available on the official website www.interpolnyc.com/tour-dates.
Tour stops include a performance at their hometown festival, the CBGB Festival Under the K Bridge in Brooklyn, The Bowl at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego and The Salt Shed Fairgrounds in Chicago. Some dates will feature Youth Lagoon, Loathe, julie, DIIV and French Police as support artists, while the band will also accompany SOMBR on the Vancouver leg.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
