of Montreal announce 20th album ‘aethermead’ + share art-punk single ‘When’

After 30 years and 19 studio albums, of Montreal have announced their 20th studio album, ‘aethermead,’ due out June 5 via Polyvinyl Record Co. Alongside the announcement comes the lead single When — a speedy, art-punk gut-punch that sets the emotional tone for what’s shaping up to be one of the most personal records in Kevin Barnes’ already deeply confessional catalog. Pre-order ‘aethermead’ here.

The album’s origins trace back to a dual rupture: a split with Barnes’ then-fiancé and a departure from the isolation of Vermont. Barnes landed in Brooklyn, and something clicked. As Barnes puts it:

“I’ve always had a romantic fascination with New York, but for forever I couldn’t figure out how to make it work. The timing was perfect this time around.”

The title ‘aethermead’ is drawn from the sources of healing Barnes found in his new Brooklyn life — daily walks with his dog through the Nethermead area of Prospect Park, a newfound meditation practice, and the comfort of having family nearby. It’s a breakup record, sure, but more than that it’s a document of personal rebirth.

Lead single When captures the emotional complexity of a relationship that unfolded shortly after Barnes arrived in NYC. Barnes describes it as:

“More a song about yearning, sadness, confusion, frustration…than it is a song about having sex. Clearly all of the things listed in the verses are the things I actually desire. I’m hiding behind a shield of sexual bravado and pretending as if my only needs are physical. It’s very transparent that I’m longing for much more than just libidinal fulfillment, but those other things are being withheld. It’s much easier to say ‘When can I fuck you again?’ than it is to say ‘When will you be loving, affectionate, and emotionally generous and make me feel whole again?'”

Visualizer by David Barnes.

Straying from the electronic textures of recent of Montreal records, Barnes recorded aethermead at Brooklyn’s Honey Jar studio with engineer Drew Vandenberg and members of the live band: drummer Clayton Rychlik, keyboardist Jojo Glidwell, and bassist Ross Brand. The result feels singular and newly energized — Barnes, yet again, proving himself one of indie rock’s most daring and restless creative forces.

of Montreal will be hitting the road this summer for a 36-date North American tour. Tickets are available here.

• 6/19: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club ~
• 6/20: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ~
• 6/21: Norfolk, VA @ The Annex ~
• 6/22: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ~
• 6/23: New York, NY @ Webster Hall ~
• 6/24: Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ~
• 6/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ~
• 6/26: Buffalo, NY @ Asbury Hall ~
• 6/27: Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls ~
• 6/28: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick ~
• 6/29: Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Café ~
• 6/30: Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall ~
• 7/01: Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall ~
• 7/02: Chattanooga, TN @ Barrellhouse Ballroom ~
• 7/03: Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ~
• 7/04: Charleston, SC @ Charleston Pour House ~
• 7/21: Nashville, TN @ The Mil at Cannery Hall
• 7/22: St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall *
• 7/23: Wichita, KS @ WAVE *
• 7/24: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
• 7/25: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Metro Music Hall *
• 7/26: Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall *
• 7/27: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
• 7/28: Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
• 7/29: Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall *
• 7/30: Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post *
• 7/31: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
• 8/01: Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater *
• 8/02: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
• 8/03: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister *
• 8/05: Dallas, TX @ Trees *
• 8/06: Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
• 8/07: Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea’s Live *
• 8/08: Birmingham, AL @ Saturn *

~ w/ Cormae  |  * w/ Sloppy Jane