Fiery Furnaces To Record New Album, Matthew Friedberger to release insane amount of solo music
By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 12, 2010 8:00PM
Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, known to strangers and loved ones alike as hyper-prolific indie-prog duo The Fiery Furnaces, will start recording their next album sometime before Christmas, according to a newsletter from label Thrill Jockey. Bets are 50/50 as to whether the album, their ninth overall since 2003, will be thrilling like 2005's EP or totally out-there and irritating, like Rehearsing My Choir.
But give the duo this: Not many people have the artistic gumption to record an entire album with their nana, much less release it. That kind of musical fortitude is no doubt what informs Furnace-man Matthew’s decision to release not one, not two, but eight official solo albums in the next year.
Admittedly, the concept behind the records, called the Solos series, is a doozy. Starting in January, Friedberger will release a new album every two months. Each album features him singing and playing a single instrument exclusively. The first record, Napoleonette, features the piano. The next one will have the guitar.
And, from there, your guess is as good as ours. Anyone up for a Klezmer-themed album? Once the sixth record in the Solos series ships, patrons will also get two more exclusive full-lengths that Friedburger will do with some special guests. We’re getting exhausted just even thinking about that much music.
Solos will only be available as a subscription series, and pre-orders can now be made at the Thrill Jockey site. There are only 700 copies going to be made, so get on it. In the meantime, listen to single “Shirley” from Napoleanette below.