10 years after their formation, the Danish duo of The Raveonettes are excited to announce the release of their new album Observator, out September 11th on Vice Records. Sharin Foo and Sune Rose Wagner have composed a tribute to life, sumptuous and beautiful in its sound, but bleak and sad at its heart.
The album was recorded in California, as the duo was eager to leave New York behind in favor of the fresh Venice Beach vibe, particularly following Sune’s back injury from last summer.
“When you’re a young man and you can’t put your socks on in the morning without being overwhelmed by pain, it can be very demoralizing,” Sune shared. “I could use the California air to get clean, concentrate on writing, and no one would distract me.”
But it wasn’t all fun and games as Sune and Sharin quickly realized… Los Angeles was full of dread and despair that sparked a “wicked loneliness,” said Sune. So, Sune finally threw himself into the real lives of people he encountered in both California and New York and soaked up the stories of both cities.
Mentored by Richard Gottehrer – co-founder of The Orchard and producer for Blondie, Go-Gos, and more — The Raveonettes finally hit the legendary Sunset Sound Studios and recorded Observator in just seven days. The band said this album was the “quickest and easiest album” they have ever done and attributed their inspiration to the people, the occurrences and the relationships around them, rather than to L.A. itself.
Observator is also the first time they’ve ever used the piano, bringing a glorious, gloomy sound to the record and with it a new dimension to The Raveonettes. “We knew immediately that it was something we needed to expand on,” says Sune. “But make no mistake; Observator is still a gorgeous guitar album.”
Get ready… Observator will hit stores on September 11th. Until then, enjoy their first single from the album, “Observations,” available for streaming now on RollingStone.com.
