NEAR TO THE WILD HEART OF LIFE
OUT JANUARY 27 ON POD VIA INERTIA/RHYTHMETHOD
Listen to first single “Near To The Wild Heart Of Life” now
After playing the last of their 200 shows in more than 40 countries, including three shows in New Zealand, in support of their critically acclaimed 2012 album Celebration Rock, Japandroids took a much needed break to rest and recover after their last show in November of 2013. The band would not play again for three years. This month, they made their triumphant return to the stage, playing intimate shows in Vancouver, LA, Toronto, London and NYC and announcing their return to Australia in December.
Now, the band has revealed the details of their much anticipated third album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, out worldwide January 27, 2017. Japandroids have also shared the first single and title track, “Near To The Wild Heart Of Life.”
LISTEN TO “NEAR TO THE WILD HEART OF LIFE” HERE
Near To The Wild Heart Of Life was written clandestinely throughout 2014 and 2015 in Vancouver, Toronto, New Orleans, and Mexico City. It was (mostly) recorded by Jesse Gander (who had previously recorded both Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock) at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver, BC (September-November, 2015). One song, “True Love And A Free Life Of Free Will”, was recorded by Damian Taylor during an exploratory recording session at Golden Ratio in Montreal, QC (February, 2015). The album was mixed by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT (May, 2016) and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in New York, NY (July, 2016).
Like Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock, the album is 8 songs. This is because 8 songs is the standard template for a great rock n roll album: Raw Power by The Stooges, Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Marquee Moon by Television, IV by Led Zeppelin, Horses by Patti Smith, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Remain In Light by Talking Heads, Master Of Puppets by Metallica, etc.
Like Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock, the album was sequenced specifically for the LP. On Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, side A (songs 1-4) and side B (songs 5-7) each follow their own loose narrative. Taken together as one, they form an even looser narrative, with the final song on side B (song 8) acting as an epilogue.EndFragment
As the band beginning booking more shows down under alongside three sold out Aussie shows, they are now confirmed for the Berry NSW festival, Fairgrounds Festival on December 3. NZ fans wait with bated breath to see if we can get them across the ditch once again!
