Wrens record new song, plan first album in six years

Six years after releasing The Meadowlands, The Wrens are returning to the studio to record a brand-spanking-new record. For those keeping score, the last time all the members of The Wrens recored together was in 1999. (The Meadowlands wouldn't be released for another four years.) To give you an idea of how long ago that was, in 1999 Rihanna was 11, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was dominating the box office, and Henry Ford had yet to invent his infernal motorcar.

In honor of the announcement, the band is formally releasing a live track from its February 2008 performance at Abbey Road, a studio we remember for some reason. Performing live on Worldspace Satellite Radio, the band decided to try out a new, completely unrehearsed track, "Pulled Fences." That's right, the band had never practiced, demoed or even heard "Pulled Fences" before putting it to tape, excluding lead singer Kevin Whelan who had written some rough lyrics and chords for the song. (A demo of the song, then titled "In Turkish Waters," appeared in the Australian literary mag The Lifted Brow after the Abbey Road session.) And if the results of this off-the-cuff recording are any indication of what we can expect from the Wrens in the future, their next record is going to be fracking fantastic.

"Pulled Fences" is currently available on the band's new website, as well as iTunes and Amazon. The band also commissioned a new t-shirt to commemorate the band's time at Abbey Road. It's good to have you back, Wrens.