ATO Records recording artist Gomez has revealed details of its highly anticipated new album, A NEW TIDE. The eagerly awaited collection – the band’s sixth studio outing and follow-up to 2006’s breakthrough HOW WE OPERATE – arrives in stores and at all online retailers on March 31st.
A NEW TIDE marks a return to the always-freewheeling British band’s more experimental roots, with songs like "Win Park Slope" and "Airstream Driver" evincing a spirit born of boundless imagination and a longstanding collaborative relationship.
With the band members now scattered across two continents, from Brooklyn to Brighton, England, early tracks were written and recorded individually and then merged online. The process allowed for an open and adaptive songwriting approach, the material taking on its ultimate shape when Gomez officially convened in studios in Chicago and Charlottesville, VA, with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine, Counting Crows).
As ever, a wide range of styles is incorporated into Gomez’s matchless musical brew. Flavors of Delta blues, psychedelia, and Krautrock all come into play, resulting in a musically mischievous and remarkably forward-thinking collection. In short, A NEW TIDE is Gomez at their inimitable, incomparable best.
A NEW TIDE also sees Gomez accompanied by a number of illustrious guest musicians, including vocalist Amy Milan (of Stars/Broken Social Scene fame), bassist Josh Abrams (The Roots, Sam Prekop, Godspeed You Black Emperor!), cellist Oliver Krauss (David Gray, Paul Weller, Beth Orton), and multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie of Brooklyn’s world renowned Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra.
Gomez has stood apart from their very beginning just over a decade ago, earning critical praise and an ever-growing fanbase for their eclectic and ambitious musical tack. HOW WE OPERATE – Gomez’s ATO Records debut – proved the venerable band’s biggest popular success thus far, debuting at #1 on Billboard’s "Heatseekers" chart upon its May 2006 release. The album’s title track – prominently featured on the 2006 season finale of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy – drew major airplay at multi-format radio outlets nationwide, including Triple A and Modern Rock. The second single, "See The World," was later featured on a 2007 episode of Fox’s House M.D., and included on the series’ "Original Television Soundtrack" album release.
Gomez toured extensively surrounding the album’s release, as both headliner and a variety of high profile opening slots, not to mention performances at such annual gatherings as the Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Sasquatch!, Vegoose, Summerfest, and the UK’s V Festival. The band also made a number of national TV appearances, including performances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts.
In October 2008, Gomez celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Mercury Music Prize-winning debut, BRING IT ON, with a special one-off performance of the album at Chicago’s Vic Theatre. The concert was highlighted by a second set which included the live premiere of many of the new songs featured on A NEW TIDE.
In addition, the band’s Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball have each performed multiple solo tours in both the US and the UK. Gomez will be touring in support of A NEW TIDE throughout 2009.
