The Books Unveil New Music

It’s been four years since The Books released Lost and Safe (Tomlab), the duo’s third and most critically acclaimed album to date. While the group has not exactly been absent — they did release an EP in 2006 titled Music for a French Elevator and Other Short Format Oddities by the Books, songs literally commissioned to be played in an elevator — they have been busy tending to their growing families and pursuing solo projects.

Next Friday, however, guitarist/vocalist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong, will strike out on a series of select live dates to preview new songs from their forthcoming studio album. Accompanying the music will be video installations culled from found footage the group has edited to interact with the new music in a live setting. Though the group’s much-anticipated fourth studio album — still untitled at this time — is in the process of being recorded, these live dates will also bring The Books back to audiences.

In an April 2009 interview with the Boston Globe’s James Reed, The Books hinted at the aesthetic of their forthcoming release:

Lately they’ve been picking up self-help and hypnotherapy cassettes, which they say have inspired much of the upcoming album’s new age-y themes. “You’re getting verrry sleepy,” Zammuto says when asked what the album sounds like.

On a related note, if you haven’t had a chance to hear The Books/José González version of Nick Drake’s “Cello Song,” check it out here.

Live dates:

08/14/2009 The Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
08/15/2009 Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, NC
09/15/2009 First Unitarian Church Sanctuary, Philadelphia, PA *
09/16/2009 Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA *
09/17/2009 Wexner Center, Columbus, OH *
09/18/2009 Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids, MI *
09/19/2009 Krannert Center, Urbana, IL *
09/20/2009 The Luminary Center for the Arts, St Louis, MO *
09/22/2009 Eyedrum, Atlanta, GA
09/23/2009 Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC
09/25/2009 The Southern, Charlottesville, VA *
09/26/2009 Terrace F. Club, Princeton, NJ *
11/25/2009 The Cultch, Vancouver, BC

* With Lymbyc Systym

(Image via MySpace)