Yeah Yeah Yeahs Return With ‘Mosquito’ This Spring

Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Photo: jaswooduk/ Flickr

It’s been four long years, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are set to release their first new record since 2009’s It’s Blitz: It’s called Mosquito and will hit shelves on April 16th (though you can pre-order a deluxe album bundle now). The band has posted a teaser video on YouTube, which you can check out below: It features behind-the-scenes footage of the band recording a dissonant, crescendoing cut that finds Karen O singing, “They can see you but you can’t see them.”

“We would love for this music to make our fans feeeeel something, for it to stir some shit up inside of them, whatever that may be,” said Karen O in a statement. “So much feeling went into this record, it was the rope ladder thrown down into the ditch for us to climb up and dust ourselves off. I hope others can climb up it too; we’re excited to share the good vibes.”

Much of Mosquito was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornilla, Texas, and features production from TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Nick Launay and one track from LCD Soundsystem mastermind James Murphy. Mosquito also includes a guest appearance from the notorious underground rapper Dr. Octagon, the extraterrestrial alter-ego of Kool Keith. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs recently debuted a few new tracks during a 70-minute set in Pomona, California, as the band geared up for an Australian tour.

O added that the band’s approach to Mosquito was more playful and lo-fi, with initial demos recorded in the band’s basement studio in Manhattan. “I think this record has more moodier and tripped-out songs than you’ve ever heard from us,” she said. “You might catch some roots reggae and minimalist psychedelia influences in there.”