Last December Violent Femmes visited Australia for a concert at the Sydney Opera House in celebration of the 30 year anniversary of their eponymous debut album. While in the country, the band knuckled down at a Hobart studio to record their first new music in 15 years for a new EP, and today they’ve shared the first taste, Love Love Love Love Love.
The song, and in fact the entire 4-track EP, was recorded in Tasmania this past New Year’s Eve – which presumably is why the EP is titled Happy New Year. It is scheduled to be released on Record Store Day this April 18th, pressed on limited edition translucent champagne-coloured vinyl.
The Violent Femmes released their most recent album, Freak Magnet, in 2000 – two years later than its scheduled release after the band were dropped from their label Interscope. In the time since they’ve covered Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, gone on hiatus, fought inter-band lawsuits, reunited and added new member, The Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione.
Reports Rolling Stone, the new EP’s first single Love Love Love Love Love is an ode to old-fashioned romance that was written by Jake Brebes. “Happy to have some new recordings for people that have loved our music,” Femmes guitarist Gordon Gano said, “and would be honoured to have a few new ears hear us for the first time too.”
Violent Femmes say they also have plans to record more new material this year. Have a listen to the new track, Love Love Love Love Love, below.
