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This eighth album from The National is refreshingly different, somewhat modifying the well-oiled mechanics of this American band. First and foremost, this is achieved through the presence of several female singers who support the leader Matt Berninger on most of the tracks. The most memorable are the performances of Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie’s bassist) on Had Your Soul With You, as well as the particularly poignant performances of Lisa Hannigan and Mina Tindle on So Far So East and Oblivions respectively, the latter being especially moving. Why this sudden feminine presence for an exclusively male band? It’s likely because the album was conceived after filmmaker Mike Mills asked The National to put his short film I Am Easy to Find into song form - a film which happens to be centred around a woman. It’s this relationship to images that has somewhat upended the Brooklyn band’s pop formula. There are a few references to some classics of cinema, chiefly Roman Holiday by William Wyler (1953).
But apart from the new cinematic release, fans of The National will still find the legendary melancholy of the group in both the lyrics and the music. The presence of heart-wrenching strings on all the tracks (with the exception of the staccato violins on Where Is Her Head) as well as a recurring introspective piano (notably in the beautiful Light Years) will particularly be remembered. Bryan Devendorf’s singular rhythms plays on contrasts, occasionally making striking jerks (Rylan, The Pull of You) as well as adding a sensual flair (Hairpin Turns, I Am Easy to Find). © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
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Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Andi Toma, Programmer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, Composer, StudioMusician - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Jan St. Werner, Programmer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - Kyle Resnick, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Marc Desjardins, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Domitille Gilon, StudioMusician - Matthias Piccin, StudioMusician - Marine Gandon, StudioMusician - Pauline Hauswirth, StudioMusician - Juliette Salmona, StudioMusician - Sarah Chenaf, StudioMusician - Grégoire Dubruel, StudioMusician - Thomas Garoche, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Eve Owen, StudioMusician - Arianna Tessier, StudioMusician - Barbara Liepvre, StudioMusician - Benachir Boukatem, StudioMusician - Charlotte Juillard, StudioMusician - Ella Jarrige, StudioMusician - Emilie Duch Sauzeau, StudioMusician - Leslie Boulin Raulet, StudioMusician - Nikolai Spassov, StudioMusician - Eric Cha-Beach, StudioMusician - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Jan St. Werner, Programmer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, Programmer - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Melissa Laveaux, StudioMusician - Kate Stables, StudioMusician - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - Mina Tindle, AssociatedPerformer - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - Diane sorel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - Pauline de Lassus, StudioMusician - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Sharon Van Etten, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Eric Cha-Beach, StudioMusician - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Andi Toma, Programmer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Broder, Programmer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Alexander Ridha, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Kate Stables, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - Diane sorel, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Producer - The National, MainArtist - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Producer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Lyricist, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Andi Toma, Programmer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Jan St. Werner, Programmer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Jonathan Low, Programmer - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Eve Owen, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Mark Davies, Composer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Kate Stables, AssociatedPerformer - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Anne Eickelberg, Composer - Brian Hageman, Composer - Hugh Swarts, Composer - Jay Paget, Composer - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Justin Vernon, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Jason Treuting, StudioMusician - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Marc Desjardins, StudioMusician - Domitille Gilon, StudioMusician - Matthias Piccin, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - Marine Gandon, StudioMusician - Pauline Hauswirth, StudioMusician - Juliette Salmona, StudioMusician - Sarah Chenaf, StudioMusician - Grégoire Dubruel, StudioMusician - Thomas Garoche, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Arianna Tessier, StudioMusician - Barbara Liepvre, StudioMusician - Benachir Boukatem, StudioMusician - Charlotte Juillard, StudioMusician - Ella Jarrige, StudioMusician - Emilie Duch Sauzeau, StudioMusician - Leslie Boulin Raulet, StudioMusician - Nikolai Spassov, StudioMusician - Eric Cha-Beach, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Lyricist, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Lisa Hannigan, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Carin Besser, Lyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Music & Media International, Inc, MusicPublisher - Ben Sloan, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Kate Stables, AssociatedPerformer - Padma Newsome, Arranger, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Lanz, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Joseph Brooks, Choir - Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Producer - The National, MainArtist - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Producer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Bryce Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - Natalie Hawkins, Choir - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Abigail Lienhard, Choir - Avery Soto, Choir - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician - Aliyah Weiss, Choir - Amayah Hutchinson, Choir - Anna Vartsaba, Choir - Clara Rosarius, Choir - Clementine Vonnegut, Choir - Cora Clum, Choir - Fannie Feynberg, Choir - Jeanne Bransbourg, Choir - Lila Hasenstab, Choir - Marianna Weaver, Choir - Maya Baijal, Choir - Maya Renaud-Levine, Choir - Maya Sequira, Choir - Morgan Colton, Choir - Raquel Klein, Choir - Sarah Sotomayor, Choir - Tatyana Sgaraglino, Choir - Thalia Glyptis, Choir
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Mike Mills, Producer - Ben Russell, StudioMusician - Logan Coale, StudioMusician - Caleb Burhans, StudioMusician - Aaron Dessner, Composer, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - The National, MainArtist - Thomas Bartlett, StudioMusician - Gail Ann Dorsey, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Richardson, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management, MusicPublisher - Matt Berninger, Lyricist, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Davis, StudioMusician - Scott Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Devendorf, AssociatedPerformer - Bryce Dessner, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Gandelsman, StudioMusician - Wolfram Koessel, StudioMusician - BMG Rights Management US LLC, MusicPublisher - Caitlin Lynch, StudioMusician - Katie Hyun, StudioMusician - Andrea Lee, StudioMusician - Sarah Whitney, StudioMusician - Guillaume Pirard, StudioMusician - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Emily Dagget Smith, StudioMusician - Miranda Sielaff, StudioMusician - Rachel Shapiro, StudioMusician
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
Album review
This eighth album from The National is refreshingly different, somewhat modifying the well-oiled mechanics of this American band. First and foremost, this is achieved through the presence of several female singers who support the leader Matt Berninger on most of the tracks. The most memorable are the performances of Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie’s bassist) on Had Your Soul With You, as well as the particularly poignant performances of Lisa Hannigan and Mina Tindle on So Far So East and Oblivions respectively, the latter being especially moving. Why this sudden feminine presence for an exclusively male band? It’s likely because the album was conceived after filmmaker Mike Mills asked The National to put his short film I Am Easy to Find into song form - a film which happens to be centred around a woman. It’s this relationship to images that has somewhat upended the Brooklyn band’s pop formula. There are a few references to some classics of cinema, chiefly Roman Holiday by William Wyler (1953).
But apart from the new cinematic release, fans of The National will still find the legendary melancholy of the group in both the lyrics and the music. The presence of heart-wrenching strings on all the tracks (with the exception of the staccato violins on Where Is Her Head) as well as a recurring introspective piano (notably in the beautiful Light Years) will particularly be remembered. Bryan Devendorf’s singular rhythms plays on contrasts, occasionally making striking jerks (Rylan, The Pull of You) as well as adding a sensual flair (Hairpin Turns, I Am Easy to Find). © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:35
- Main artists: The National
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: 4AD
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd 2019 The National under exclusive licence to 4AD Ltd
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