Death Cab for Cutie’s newalbum “not a guitar-basedrecord”

Tue 2nd Nov, 2010 in International News

Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard has told Spin magazine that his band’s new album isn’t as guitar-based or ‘live’ as their previous record, 2008’s Narrow Stairs. Gibbard explained that the change was in part influenced by the “self-loathing in [ Narrow Stairs ] that I’m a bit of embarrassed about now. It’s a really dark record. I didn’t want to make that record again.”

Citing Brian Eno’s Another Green World as an inspiration, Gibbard explains that the new, as yet untitled, album “has turned out to be much more of a construction project… It’s not a guitar-based record. We’ve been into vintage keyboards… We’re not adding guitars because people will be expecting them… I’m so proud of this album that at this point I don’t care if people don’t like it.”

The new album is due for release in autumn 2011 and will feature 12 to 13 songs including Codes and Keys, the first Death Cab song to include a string section in over a decade. Gibbard says “We had some really beautiful arrangements written for it. It’s a standout track on the record. It’s really aching and gorgeous. It’s been really amazing to hear it come to life.”

Another track expected to appear on the album Unobstructed Views is described by Gibbard as “a sprawling, seven-minute track that’s mostly instrumental. It has the piano and keyboard soundscapes that I’ve been really enjoying.”

Although Gibbard says that Death Cab will tour the new album – including a massive show in England supporting Foo Fighters – there’s an ominous comment for Australian fans with the lead singer noting that he’d “like to capitalize on feeling inspired to writing rather than hobbling up onstage and jumping around for two hours in Dresden.”