Venerable modern rock band R.E.M. is in Vancouver working on its 13th studio album, according to a post by the band’s general counsel Bertis Downs on the group’s official Web site. “Great to be starting work on music again,” the post reads, saying that the group expects to be releasing the album via Warner Bros. in “a year or so.”
“The guys plan to work in bursts on this record – a few weeks here, somewhere warmer in the winter, different in the spring, possibly some shows next summer,” Downs said, hinting at a recording framework familiar to the trio, which has recorded its last few albums piece-by-piece at a variety of studios. “Peter [Buck], Mike [Mills], and Michael [Stipe] are doing great individually and collectively, and all seem supercharged to be back in the studio, writing, playing, trying things out, getting sounds, working with [engineers/producers] Pat and Jamie (McCarthy and Candiloro),” he continued.
As previously reported, the group tentatively has a full-scale world tour in its sights after the release of the in-progress album, based on previous comments by Buck and Stipe. The group followed its last album, 2001’s “Reveal” (Warner Bros.) with a smaller promotional tour.
Guitarist Buck’s early descriptions of the demo material for the new record hinted that it would be darker and more raw than the summery “Reveal.” He also mentioned that the group is considering bringing guest musicians such as Harvey Danger guitarist Joe Gore in to freshen up the recording process.
