Frontman Matt Berninger has teamed up with Brent Knopf of Menomena and Ramona Falls to form EL VY (apparently pronounced “el vie”, rhymes with “hell pie”). The duo plan to release their début album Return To The Moon on 4AD on the 30th of October.

The only song currently available is the title track, or, to give its snappy full name ‘Return To The Moon (Political Song For Didi Bloome To Sing, With Crescendo)’. Berninger’s vocals are as distinctive as ever, but the influence of Knopf sees the sound take a far poppier path than anything The National have put out. The song is strange and, like most of Berninger’s writing, uses specific imagery to create a sense of vague, imprecise meaning.

“Scratched a ticket with the leg of a cricket,
and I got triple Jesus.
Cashed it in for a siamese twin
at the family firing range.

Went to bed woke up in another man’s head
Nobody noticed.
I’m so excited the senators a fighter,
don’t tell me nothing’s changed.
Return to the moon, I’m dying.
Return to the moon, please.”

It’s more than enough to get us interested. You can pre-order the album now via 4AD.

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