Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce April 16 release of new album, 'Mosquito'

Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce April 16 release of new album, ‘Mosquito’

By Mikael Wood

Jan. 15, 2013 8:24 AM PT

David Bowie and Justin Timberlake aren’t the only musicians returning to active duty this spring.

Just days after debuting two new songs at a show at the Glass House in Pomona, New York’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs announced Monday that they’ll release an album, “Mosquito,” on April 16, the post-punk band’s first since “It’s Blitz!” in 2009.

Like “It’s Blitz!,” the upcoming disc was produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio and Nick Launay, who’s also worked with Nick Cave and the Cribs, among others. LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy oversaw one track, and rapper Kool Keith makes a guest appearance in his Dr. Octagon guise.

“We took a more playful, lo-fi approach to songwriting,” singer Karen O said in a statement. “Much of the music was demo’d in our little basement studio in Manhattan with drum machines, a ... sample keyboard and tons of delay, which we called ‘the soup.’

“I think this record has more moodier and tripped-out songs than you’ve ever heard from us,” she added. “You might catch some roots-reggae and minimalist psychedelia influences in there.”

Karen O, guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase have spent the last few years pursuing interests outside the group.

In 2011 the frontwoman premiered a rock opera, “Stop the Virgens,” at Brooklyn’s St. Ann’s Warehouse, then collaborated with Trent Reznor on a Led Zeppelin cover for David Fincher’s movie adaptation of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” Zinner worked in orchestral music, showed photographs and co-produced Santigold’s “Master of My Make-Believe.” And Chase wrote about pizza on his website.

“This is a feel-good, food-for-the-soul, chicken-soup-for-the-ears Yeah Yeah Yeahs record,” Karen O said. “Which doesn’t mean easy listening. It means kind of raw, kind of chaotic, kind of dreamy. Very us.”

Watch a short video about “Mosquito” below.