Fans of Vampire Weekend received potentially good news on Friday: Album No. 4 might be finished this year.
Lead singer Ezra Koenig released new information about a previously unknown LP on Instagram, essentially offering the first comprehensive band update in 2017.
“Every day I get comments & questions about the next Vampire Weekend album,” Koenig wrote. “Obviously, we gotta take our time & get it right but the fans deserve some information. I know it feels like it’s been an eternity since the last one but time…is strange.”
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With working title Mitsubishi Macchiato still in place, fans can expect a more “springtime” album than Modern Vampires of the City, which potentially means more upbeat, uplifting tracks. He released the names of two tracks, “Conversation” and “Flower Moon.”
Mitsubishi Macchiato will be the first Vampire Weekend LP released without Rostam Batmanglij. After the departure of Batmanglij in January 2016—who not only performed in the band but also produced and co-wrote their albums with Koenig—the band’s future seemed unclear, especially as members Chris Baio and Chris Tomson released solo records last year. Through it all, however, Koenig always maintained that a new album’s on the way.
Regardless of uncertainty and an ongoing three year wait for new music, Vampire Weekend fans were ecstatic to hear the good news.
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mamma always said life was like a new vampire weekend album, you're never going to get one pic.twitter.com/LLFmONGwG1
— Shelby (@shelbyeezus) March 19, 2017
Vampire Weekend’s latest album, Modern Vampires of the City, was released in 2013. Through MVOTC the band matured, explored deeper concepts than albums prior, and began to depart from their African-influenced beats. It earned the band numerous awards in 2014, including best alternative music album at the Grammys.
Its unclear whether Mitsubishi Macchiato will continue to propel the band in the same route MVOTC took them or if the band will revert to the more playful, lighthearted sounds found on Contra and Vampire Weekend. Even Koenig seems unsure of what’s to come next.
“I should probably stop there cuz all of that information is subject to change,” Koenig said. “I can’t tell you the really good stuff anyway.”