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Trampled by Turtles share first single off new album, ‘Wild Animals’

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by Andrea Swensson

April 10, 2014

Hot on the heels of the announcement of their inaugural Festival Palomino, which hits Canterbury Park on September 20, Trampled by Turtles are back with more news today: they have a new studio album, Wild Animals, coming out on July 15.

Produced by Low's Alan Sparhawk and recorded at the historic Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Wild Animals marries the layered string arrangements of Trampled by Turtles' previous material with the more atmospheric, intimate vibe of Dave Simonett's recent solo EP, Razor Pony. In fact, the first single off the new Trampled by Turtles album, "Are You Behind the Shining Star?," first appeared on Razor Pony; for the rendition that appears on Wild Animals, Simonett traded in the whir of an electric guitar for a subtle, warm string accompaniment.

"We recorded it this winter, in January. It was a blast," lead singer Dave Simonett told Barb Abney today. "Alan Sparhawk produced the record, it was our first time working with him, and he did a great job, I feel."

Though Trampled by Turtles have become notorious on the live circuit for their breakneck, smoking-fast style of bluegrass music, they have also connected with a more widespread sea of fans on the strength of their more somber, introspective acoustic material—namely the breakout single on 2012's Stars and Satellites, "Alone." Wild Animals aims to explore the whole range of the group's abilities.

"A lot of our reputation from even just a couple years ago was that we were this fast band, which we can do, and we do that," Simonett noted. "But this record focused a little bit more on other aspects of our playing together.”

Listen to the new single "Are You Behind the Shining Star?" here:

Or watch the video here:

And here is the track listing and cover art for Wild Animals:

1. Wild Animals

2. Hollow

3. Repetition

4. Are You Behind the Shining Star?

5. Silver Light

6. Come Back Home

7. Ghosts

8. Lucy

9. Western

10. Nobody Knows

11. Winners

TBT_WildAnimals_Cover

And a video vignette of the new album:

 

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