The New Pornographers started out in the late 1990s as a hyper-edgy indie supergroup. The melodies in the songs overtook each other, the first album was called MASS ROMANTIC, there was a lot going on on the record. 26 years later the construct is still stable, only occasional member Dan Bejar from Destroyer is taking a break again. What has changed: The Vancouver band’s music is now determined by an inner peace.
THE FORMER SITE OF is the most reflective album of the band’s career. Main songwriter AC Newman has developed almost a dozen characters, people in their 50s who remember, dream or try to come to terms with what they find. There is an homage to the last payphone, to the final 50 cent coin that you have to pay to establish a connection.
“Bonus Mai Tais” talks about what is particularly important when it comes to a long-haul flight: beverage management. To accompany Newman’s everyday poetry, the band develops a sound between flat indie electronica, mandolins, wistful indie rock and the voices of AC Newman as well as the two singers Neko Case (as always, every word is remembered) and keyboardist Kathryn Calder
