Back in November, Xiu Xiu gave us the first taste from their forthcoming album Angel Guts: Red Classroom with the track ‘Stupid in the Dark’.
Marked by Stewart’s life in a dangerous Los Angeles neighbourhood, the album’s new single ‘Lawrence Liquors’ is unsurprisingly dark and creepy. Listen to it below and watch out for the release of Angel Guts: Red Classroom on February 3rd in Europe via Bella Union and February 4th in North America via Polyvinyl.

Avant-rock experimentalist outfit Xiu Xiu are releasing Nina, a cover album of Nina Simone songs, next month. But there’s no stopping them and the brainchild project of Jamie Stewart have already announced the release of a new album of originals in early 2014. Entitled Angel Guts: Red Classroom, Xiu Xiu’s upcoming album arrives on February 3rd in Europe via Bella Union and the following day in North America via Polyvinyl.
Named after a Japanese erotic noir film, the album is described as “the beginning of Xiu Xiu’s descent from grayness into the deepest blackness endurable. It is the sound of Xiu Xiu’s death.” Heavily marked by Stewart’s life in a dangerous Los Angeles neighbourhood where he’d moved to, “the aura of his new home bleeds into every pore of the album, each lyric and note bearing traces of its essence: the terrible beauty, the despair, the violence, the ultra humanity, the uncertainty”.
‘Stupid in the Dark’ serves as the first taste from Angel Guts: Red Classroom. Listen to it now.

‘Honeysuckle’ is the second single lifted from Xiu Xiu‘s recently released album Always and a video for it has emerged yesterday.

Always is out now via Bella Union in Europe and Polyvinyl in the rest of the world.

The brainchild project of Jamie Stewart is starting a North-American tour today, check all the dates and other info here.

Now watch the video for ‘Honeysuckle’ directed by Amir Stoucri and  featuring Xiu Xiu’s member Angela Seo as she goes about her day-to-day routine. Make sure you have finished eating because it gets pretty disturbing.

And after the video you can listen to the first single off Always, ‘Beauty Towne’, posted here a while back.

Avant-rock experimentalist duo turned into quintet Xiu Xiu are releasing their ninth full-length album entitled Always next week.
The San Jose, California outfit headed by Jamie Stewart has just offered a previewing of ‘Beauty Towne’, a new track off the upcoming album and it comes with a visual accompaniment.

According to the press release, “at its core, Always symbolizes the mutual camaraderie with and deep dedication to each person who has internalized Xiu Xiu’s work, tattooed its name on their skin or soul, and throughout the past ten years made the band a part of their lives.
The origin of these intense, everlasting bonds is Stewart. His fearless lyrics have given voice to life’s most untouchable and taboo subjects, while his distinctively committed but hushed vocals crystallize and medicate their unsettling impact.
Always’ most arresting moments lie in its sonic innovation — transforming avant pop elements from an undertone into a bright black focal point while adding new influences such as choral music, kraut rock and animal field recordings.”

Always was produced by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier and it drops on February 28th in the UK and rest of Europe via Bella Union and on March 6th in the rest of the world via PolyVinyl.

Watch below the black and white animated video for ‘Beauty Towne’, directed by Jean Y Kim.