Vampire Weekend have been busy in a Brooklyn recording studio working on tracks for their highly anticipated second album.
The band have nearly completed the songwriting process and are reportedly fine-tuning their studio recording techniques in order to prepare the album for a September release.
"For the last month or so, it's just been us by ourselves in this small studio, working every day," frontman Ezra Koenig told Entertainment Weekly.
Keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij, who produced the New York band's self-titled debut, is also producing the new album. "It's definitely going to be a recognisably Vampire Weekend sound, but there are going to be new sounds," Koenig said.
"We're trying to challenge ourselves not to use the same bag of tricks that we used on the first album – different instruments, stuff like that."
The band added that the song 'White Sky', which they played on the 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' show in March, will likely end up on the album.
Vampire Weekend have told NME.COM they are close to finishing their second album.
The band are currently recording the follow-up to their eponymous debut at Treefort studios in Brooklyn, and expected to wrap up sessions in time for a September release.
The record is being produced by keyboard player Rostam Batmanglij, with tracks including 'White Sky', 'Taxi Cab', 'California English' and 'Cousins', which the band played live for the first time while supporting Blur last week, are all in consideration for the finished album.
Speaking about the recording process Batmanglij told NME.COM: "I'm only successfully producing bands that I'm in, because I start changing everything (laughs). I think I've stepped it up as a producer and a songwriter on this album. I think all of us have on this album, and the fact that those are connected allows us to do more.
"If we want to approach a song that had totally different sounds having a producer in the band allows us to mould that process in a unique way. With modern music the production and the songwriting are the same process, so to have everything within the band is an important part of what we do."
Check out Vampire Weekend's exclusive video tour of their studio below now.
Vampire Weekend have revealed all about their second album today (September 15) – including its cover, which features the mystery blonde who has been cropping up on music sites for several days.
The album, set for release on January 11 next year, will be called 'Contra' and features the image, a vintage snap from the early 1980s, on the cover (pictured).
"Just like the first album, I'm really excited how everything is tied in musically, lyrically and especially aesthetically," declared frontman Ezra Koenig.
The band have also announced that 'Contra' will feature the following tracklisting:
'Horchata' 'White Sky' 'Holiday' 'California English' 'Taxi Cab' 'Run' 'Cousins' 'Giving Up The Gun' 'Diplomat’s Son' 'I Think Ur A Contra'
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:20 pm
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Good news-after not being sure about them I really ended up liking the album and all it's eccentricities-interesting guitar lines and oddball, college-styled lyrics. Not too far away from Talking Heads or The Police lyrically and vocally.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Vampire Weekend have launched a mystery online countdown set to reach zero at 7:30pm (BST) tonight (October 5).
The countdown can be viewed at http://www.ithinkuracontra.com. The website address reflects a song, 'I Think Ur A Contra', set for their forthcoming second album, 'Contra'.
The album is set for release on January 11 next year.
Vampire Weekend revealed the artwork and tracklisting of 'Contra' and its cover art last month.
No official clues about what the countdown might lead to have been released.
Vampire Weekend are giving away the opening track from second album 'Contra' for free from tonight (October 5).
The band have made 'Horchata' available as a free download from Vampireweekend.com. The album itself is not released until January 11 next year.
The announcement of the giveaway was revealed after a mysterious countdown on the band's Ithinkuracontra.com site, and followed the similarly cryptic announcement of artwork and tracklisting for 'Contra' last month.
For an exclusive interview with about the download, get this week's issue of NME, on UK newsstands from Wednesday (October 7).
Along with the album track giveaway, Vampire Weekend have also announced a series of intimate dates across the globe, including a show at London's King's College on October 15.
In addition the band are promising "daily announcements about impromptu events taking place during the California tour" (November 2-14) via their website.
The full run of dates are:
Montreal Le National (October 6) Toronto Horseshoe Tavern (8) London King’s College (15) Paris Nouveau Casino (22) Long Beach (November 2) Pioneertown Pappy and Harriet's (5) Lafayette Town Hall Theatre (7) Santa Cruz Catalyst (8) VisaliaThe Cellar Door (9) San Luis Obispo Downtown Brew (10) Bakersfield Chencho’s (12) Lomita VFW Hall (14) Tokyo Tokyo Unit (17) Sydney Oxford Art Factory (21)
Vampire Weekend's brand new track features a member of Thom Yorke's solo band, the New Yorkers have revealed.
Last night (October 5) Vampire Weekend made 'Horchata', the opening track from their forthcoming album 'Contra', available as a free download.
Speaking to NME.COM, frontman Ezra Koenig revealed the track's unexpected connection to Thom Yorke's new solo band, who made their live debut in Los Angeles over the weekend (October 2-5).
"The percussionist who plays a bunch of stuff on 'Horchata' is a Brazilian guy named Mauro Refosco," he explained. "We just heard he's joined Thom Yorke's band. He's an amazing percussionist. He's been in David Byrne's band too."
The singer also explained what Horchata is for a European audience.
"It's always been one of my favourite drinks." he declared. "I don't know if you can find much Horchata in England, it's a sweet Mexican rice drink, usually served cold."
Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig has said that the title of band's new album 'Contra' has a dual meaning.
Koenig admitted that he is fascinated by the ambiguous meaning of the title, noting that younger generations associate it with the computer game of the same name, while others think of the Nicaraguan rebel groups of the 1980s.
"I did have a moment where I stopped and thought 'Wow, everybody my age, when you say "Contra", thinks of the video game, and everybody my parents' age thinks of the counter-revolutionaries in Nicaragua'," he told MTV News.
He added that, being a child of the '80s, he couldn't help but be influenced by the 1987 Konami game. "Look, I was born in 1984, so I'm not going to name an album 'Contra' and not think about that video game!" he said.
Koenig also said that one of the album's central themes alluded to the band's rise to fame, and people's perceptions of them.
"When you're in a situation where you all of a sudden get people writing about you and saying things about you, of course you're going to have a lot of people who try to identify you by a series of bullshit signifiers," he stated.
He added: "They'll try to say because you wear this kind of shirt you come from this kind of family, or because you have a song with this word in it you must be of this political persuasion."
Vampire Weekend are currently streaming their new album 'Contra' online.
Released on January 11, the follow-up to their 2008 self-titled debut album can be heard at the band's MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend.
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 1:13 am
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Waterloo Records sent out the following message today to all of their Facebook fans:
"Initial copies of “Contra” by Vampire Weekend (out 1/11) LP and CD will contain a value add 3 song CD Single. This CD single is an indie retail exclusive and will not be available via any of the mass merchant stores."
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 1:57 am
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The first single/video "Cousins" which came out in November is awesome. Starnge, catchy, quirky and with some insane guitar work. I truly think these guys are great after not being quite sure at first. They were excellent on Letterman last night.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:12 pm
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cryton wrote:
Waterloo Records sent out the following message today to all of their Facebook fans:
"Initial copies of “Contra” by Vampire Weekend (out 1/11) LP and CD will contain a value add 3 song CD Single. This CD single is an indie retail exclusive and will not be available via any of the mass merchant stores."
No track info was given for the single.
I take it this means Amazon won't be getting the 3-track single, which sucks because I pre-ordered it long ago and it's currently at $7.99. But if I can 3 more songs, I'll buy local. I'm just concerned about the 1/11 release date noted there, which is Monday, and therefore UK/international, not US. They're not talking about an import or something, are they?
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:34 am
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I LOVED the first album for about a month, but then it wore awfully thin. 'twas a battle against Foals in my library and Foals won. Anyhow, will approach this one with extreme caution.
Last edited by Dean Harris on Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:32 am
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Here are the extra songs on the bonus disc:
Contramelt A (album mega-mix version A) Contramelt B (album mega-mix version B) Cousinz (Toy Selectah Mex-More Remix)
Itunes Pre-order gets "California English Part 2" plus the album on Itunes has "Giant" as a bonus track. Leaning towards the Itunes version now - those are actual songs. I wouldn't go out of my way or pay extra to get the bonus CD.
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:48 pm
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Banned??? Moi???
I figured my best bet for the bonus CD single would be at J&R, and I was right. What I didn't expect, though, was that they'd have the regular CD ($7.99) sitting beside the one packaged w/ the bonus CD ($12.99).
5 bucks extra for a "value-added" single? Yeah, I paid it...
_________________ "It's only rock & roll, but I like it!"
Post subject: [2010-01-12] Vampire Weekend "Contra" (XL)
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:56 am
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For anyone interested, I think the Itunes version is worth the investment, despite not getting a CD. I'm usually hesitant to buy downloads but for two extra songs, as I said above, I decided to go for it. I don't regret it. They're not spectacular, but between getting nothing and getting three remixes, I'll choose getting two brand actual new songs any day. Of course, only one of those songs is now available, but I'm sure there are easy ways to track down "California English Part 2" because it's by far the better of the two bonus tracks. "Giant" seems like something created as a bit of a joke and doesn't add anything to the album (while also not necessarily detracting from it, either) while CE2 actually carries on with CE(1)'s weirdness and takes it to its logical conclusion.
Vampire Weekend have topped the US albums chart - marking the first time a British indie have reached the Number One spot in 19 years.
The band's second album 'Contra' reached the summit of the Billboard Album Chart with 124,000 sales last week.
With the band signed to Britain's XL Recordings, the label follows Virgin Records, who topped the charts with Paula Abdul's 'Spellbound' in 1991, a year before it was brought by current 'major' owners EMI.
“We’ve always seen Vampire Weekend as a band with limitless potential. They’ve now reached Number One in the world's biggest market with an original, inventive, self-produced album," declared Richard Russell who founded XL Recordings in 1989, initally as a dance label.
He added: "They have toured tirelessly and built a loyal fanbase. As a completely independent label we are proud to have given such an independently spirited band a platform to achieve this great success without compromise."
Vampire Weekend's 'Contra' entered the UK Albums chart at Number Three this week.
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