Brokeback Announce Colder, Milder, Their First Album in a Decade
Brokeback have announced their first album in a decade, Colder, Milder, due February 26 via Thrill Jockey. The Chicago post-surf-rock project shared the title track today with the announcement, according to a release from Terrorbird Media and the official Thrill Jockey preorder page. The notice does not list an embargo.
Bandleader Douglas McCombs, a founding member of Tortoise, said the title track was built around a three-note figure in the verses, and that the guitar harmonies that open the song and return halfway through were imagined as Everly Brothers vocal harmonies. The announcement describes the album as a turn toward simplicity and restraint, with melody and harmony in the foreground.
The group includes guitarist James Elkington, bassist Peter Croke, and drummer Areif Sless-Kitain, who the release says have been integral members for the past 15 years. Brokeback began as a solo project for McCombs and later became a collaborative quartet. The announcement says pieces often start with McCombs or Elkington, then take shape through all four players.
Colder, Milder also adds strings written and arranged by Elkington and performed by cellist Lia Kohl and violinist Macie Stewart, plus vocals from Amalea Tshilds, a frequent collaborator of McCombs. The album was recorded by John McEntire at Electrical Audio and Soma EMS. The tracklist, as listed by Thrill Jockey, is Great Danger; Invasion; Colder, Milder; Golden Palm; Blue Elephant, Black Cloud; Ark and Deluge Both; Dead Hands; and Pigeon Dreamt A Man.
The title track is available to stream through the project's official preview link.