Decemberists to get "mossy, evil" in studio

Colin Meloy of the Decemberists wants his band’s next album to sound like a swamp monster. Or, maybe he didn’t say that, exactly, just that he wanted the pending record to be “mossy” and “evil.” At first, these terms don’t seem to describe the Portland-based group any better than, say, “Indonesian” or “Ska,” but like a blanket of moss in a forest gully, their melodies are lush, and through some of the darker ballads like “Mariner’s Revenge Song,” have frequently spread into nefarious territory.

But here is what he means: “I actually just saw some footage of [Canadian rock outfit] Black Mountain,” Meloy told MTV news, “and that's beautifully mossy, evil music ... so I want to make mossy, evil music too.”

The most blatant change from their most recent efforts is that Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla will not be involved with production (Tucker Martine will take the helm alone this time). Instead of working from Walla’s house, as he did for 2006’s The Crane Wife, Meloy has spent much of this month with his quill to the grindstone in France, and said his material so far is “on the long side of things.”

So far, this year has seen Decemberists’ members release work on individual efforts (drummer John Moen completed his album Perhapst, and Meloy wrapped up a tour EP of Sam Cooke covers), as well as the full band play a massive Obama rally a couple months ago in their hometown.

A week from today, Meloy and Co. hit the studio. Obviously, there’s no telling when this latest project will be completed, exactly, but Meloy assures that there will be some odds and ends this fall to “tie people over.”

Related links:
MTV.com: Decemberists' Colin Meloy Holes Up in France...
Decemberists.com
News: Decemberists' Moen to release solo work

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