José González Goes ‘Against The Dying Of The Light’ On New Album

Swedish singer-songwriter José González detailed his first album in four years, Against The Dying Of The Light, due out on March 27 via Mute Records/City Slang. The guitarist also released the LP’s title track accompanied by a music video.

Against The Dying Of The Light follows José González’s 2021 album, Local Valley, and in many ways is its companion record as it continues the songsmith’s examination of humanity’s uncertain future.

González spoke further on his forthcoming album:

“Against The Dying Of The Light is a collection of songs reflecting on humanity. Who we are – tribes of sentient apes with stories that sometimes are incompatible with each other and tools that could eventually lead to dystopia or extinction. It’s also a reflection of how we create hurdles to human flourishing by stubbornly clinging to dogmatic ideologies, where people follow dudes who pretend to know shit they don’t.

“As a concerned world citizen, I wrote these songs as a reflection of our times. Times of amazing progress, but also worrying backslides to dogmatic tribal ideologies and an extremely uncertain future. These are songs about how we can navigate humanity towards flourishing on an individual and a collective level. They can be listened to just for the sounds, harmonies, and rhythms, but the lyrics are meant to inspire people to engage and take action by collaborating to solve collective problems. For humanism and enlightenment values and against the dying of the light.”

José also detailed the title track from Against The Dying Of The Light:

“It’s about accepting who we are and what led us here, since the past can’t be changed,” he said. “Then, about refocusing our attention on the challenges ahead, like pervert incentives and algorithms that aren’t in line with human flourishing. Even though natural selection led us here, we don’t have to do what is in the gene’s best interest. And even though cultural evolution led to our societies, we don’t have to keep all the narratives if they drag us down. And even though we have enormous opportunities with new technology that can eventually design and copy itself, we don’t have to build it right away if it has the potential to make us obsolete. We can rebel against these replicators, rebel against the dying of the light.”

Watch the music video for “Against The Dying Of The Light” directed by Fredrik Egerstrand below:

Against The Dying Of The Light Tracklist:

1. A Perfect Storm
2. Etyd
3. Against The Dying Of The Light
4. For Every Dusk
5. Sheet
6. Pajarito
7. Losing Game (Sick)
8. Ay Querida
9. Rawls Slöja
10. Gymnasten
11. Just A Rock
12. You & We
13. Joy (Can’t Help But Sing)