The Avalanches’ new album, We Will Always Love You, will be released by Astralwerks on December 11. An exploration of the vibrational relationship between light, sound and spirit, it doubles as an examination of the human voice and a spiritual reckoning via the big questions: Who are we really? What happens when we die? The Avalanches – Robbie Chater and Tony DiBlasi alongside collaborator Andrew Szekeres – have moved beyond the party-up exuberance of their youthful music to a tender, reflective sound infused with hard-earned life wisdom. Building on the sample-based approach of their classic albums Since I Left You and Wildflower, but stepping boldly into new terrain, We Will Always Love You is their most song-oriented album yet, made with an array of guest singers and writers.
Teasing the album in the months leading up to today’s pre-order launch, The Avalanches released collaborations with Blood Orange (“We Will Always Love You”), Rivers Cuomo and Pink Siifu (“Running Red Lights”), Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry and CLYPSO (“Wherever You Go”), and Sananda Maitreya and Vashti Bunyan (“Reflecting Light”). Look for additional collaborations to be unveiled in the coming months and check out the two new tracks released today.
“Take Care In Your Dreaming” featuring alt-rapper Denzel Curry, Tricky and Melbourne-based Zambian rapper-singer Sampa the Great is a song about unrealized dreams and navigating unexpected journeys through life – a “careful what you wish for” kind of thing. Zane Lowe gave the track its first spin earlier today on his Apple Music show.
The up-tempo disco-funk “Music Makes Me High” has a golden glow that simultaneously harkens back to tunes like The Whispers’ “And The Beat Goes On” and to the filter-house echoes of that era such as Stardust’s “Music Feels Better With You” and Gusto’s “Disco’s Revenge.” A gospel choir can be heard very softly in the mix, singing over the “music makes me high” sample.
