“Bursting with an energy and joy that is impossible to resist… it may just be their most uplifting and inspiring work to boot”
– The Line of Best Fit (9/10)
“May emerge as one of the Oakland duo’s all-time great records”
– Paste Magazine
“Advocating for understanding, allyship and universal freedom, with playfulness paramount”
– Uncut (8/10)
“An idiosyncratic sense of rhythm powers these songs of rebellion”
– MOJO
“An eccentric dance party to aid movement (physical, emotional, political) in times of stagnancy and helplessness“
– Northern Transmissions
“A surrealistic plane of art-pop”
– Boston Globe
Today sees the release of Better Dreaming, the new album by the dynamic duo of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner.
+ Buy Better Dreaming on limited clear blue wave LP, standard black LP and CD from the 4AD Store +
+ Buy Better Dreaming on Bandcamp +
+ Stream on all digital platforms now +
Prior to the official video release of ‘How Big Is The Rainbow’ earlier this week, the duo also premiered the single live on CBS Saturday Morning.
Record stores across America and Mexico have been celebrating the release of Better Dreaming all week with listening parties both at hi-fi listening bars and indie record stores, and the group will be rounding off their album release tour with a free in-store and signing at Amoeba Records in San Francisco tomorrow, on Saturday 17th May.
Better Dreaming is ferocious in its invocation of self-love, of collective action, of dance floor liberation, ego-death deliverance, and a future we could all thrive in. When diving into the present darkness of the world, Tune-Yards asks themselves how much literal energy and joy can be conjured and pumped through the music. In its life-affirming art-pop of the apocalypse, Better Dreaming comes true.
The rhythms throughout the record carry a certain freshness, with deep pockets full of subtle idiosyncrasies that stem from Tune-Yards’ return to making an album primarily as a duo. All but one of these songs are built around Garbus’ drum looping and rhythm building, as they were on some of the early albums like Bird-Brains and WHOKILL – no full kit drummer here, and the songs love it.
Based in Oakland, California, Tune-Yards shot to fame with their 2011 4AD label debut WHOKILL, which topped numerous critics year end lists. The album was preceded by their self-released cassette BiRd-BrAiNs and followed by three phenomenal records for the label – Nikki Nack, I can feel you creep into my private life and 2021’s sketchy.
Garbus and Brenner are also known for their film score and composition work including the Boots Riley film Sorry To Bother You and TV series I’m A Virgo. They continue that collaboration with Riley on the upcoming NEON feature, I Love Boosters starring Keke Palmer, Lakeith Stanfield and Demi Moore.
Tune-Yards – Better Dreaming
4AD0812
1. Heartbreak
2. Swarm
3. Never Look Back
4. Suspended
5. Limelight
6. Get Through
7. Better Dreaming
8. How Big Is The Rainbow
9. See You There
10. Perpetual Motion
11. Sanctuary
Earlier this week, Tune-Yards announced a full U.S. headline tour this fall, with newly added September dates kicking off in Washington D.C. on 22nd September at the Howard Theatre. These newly announced fall shows will mark the final leg of their US touring before heading overseas for a UK and European headline tour in November.
For all U.S. dates, Tune-Yards has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting Street Spirit and their work as an independent newspaper dedicated to covering homelessness and poverty from the perspective of those most impacted. The paper is sold on the streets of Berkeley and Oakland by unhoused people, who keep 100% of the donations they receive.
June
9th – Ventura Music Hall, Ventura CA, US
11th – The Bellwether, Los Angeles CA, US
13th – UC Theatre, Berkeley CA, US
14th – Felton Music Hall, Felton CA, US
15th – The Guild, Menlo Park CA, US
17th – WOW Hall, Eugene OR, US
18th – Wonder Ballroom, Portland OR, US
September
9th – New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins CO, US*
10th – Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, CO US*
11th – Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder CO, US*
14th – Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego CA, US*
20th – XPoNential Music Festival, Camden NJ, US
22nd – Howard Theatre, Washington DC, US
24th – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro NC, US
25th – Terminal West, Atlanta GA, US
26th – Exit/In, Nashville TN, US
27th – Off Broadway, St Louis MO, US
29th – Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN, US
30th – Vivarium, Milkwaukee WI, US
October
1st – Fine Line, Minneapolis MN, US
2nd – The Majestic, Madison WI, US
4th – Bell’s Back Room, Kalamazoo MI, US
5th – El Club, Detroit MI, US
6th – Skullys, Columbus OH, US
8th – Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh PA, US
9th – Bowery Ballroom, New York NY, US
November
15th – Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
17th – Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, Netherlands
18th – Wintercirus, Gent, Belgium
19th – La Bellevilloise, Paris, France
21st – Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Brighton, UK
22nd – EFG London Jazz Festival, London, UK
23rd – Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK
25th – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
26th – St Luke’s, Glasgow, UK
27th – The Fire Station, Sunderland, UK
29th – Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland
* – supporting Ani DiFranco