Brooklyn five piece The National have been talking up their new album ‘High Violet’.
Formed over a decade ago, The National have managed an album every other year or so. Yet this isn’t some workaholic group churning out new material – the band have honed their songwriting to an emotionally intense point.
Centred on Matt Berhinger’s deep baritone, The National’s dark post-punk sound could be set for an unlikely breakthrough. Due for release later this month, the band’s new album ‘High Violet’ is being hailed as their finest to date.
Working in a home made studio located in guitarist Aaron Dessner’s garage, The National were able to record at their own pace. Speaking to BBC 6Music, Matt Berninger revealed that this help propel them to greater heights.
“It was a huge creative leap forward to be able to work at a pace that meant nothing,” said Berninger. “It could take a month or three years, and we wouldn’t be bleeding money just by doing it.”
Working with the help of producer Peter Katis, The National spent a total of four months just mixing the album. “We’d work on something for three months, have string arrangements and horn arrangements and then realise that the song is just a couple of beats per minute too fast” the singer revealed.
“You have to call everybody back and record everything all over again, and we did that with this record a few times.”
“When we were finally finished, and a few days after I was able to get up and listen to it in the middle of the night without making any changes, I was happy.”
The National are to release ‘High Violet’ on May 11th.
