The New Pornographers Announce New Album ‘The Former Site Of’ & Share ‘Votive’ Single

Following their 2023 LP, Continue As A Guest, The New Pornographers are prepping a new album, The Former Site Of. The record arriving on March 27 via Merge Records is previewed with “Votive,” which rolled out with a music video.

The Former Site Of features bandleader A.C. Newman, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey. The acclaimed collective is also joined by renowned session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple) for the first time.

Newman purposefully assembled the bones for The Former Site Of in his home studio before sending it to his collaborators.

“Having time in my studio really opened things up,” he said. “I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there.”

Following previously released The Former Site Of single, “Ballad Of The Last Payphone,” The New Pornographers now share the second cut, “Votive.” Press materials further detailed the song and its accompanying video:

Built around the sound of frontperson A.C. Newman’s mandolin, “Votive” builds from an atmospheric synth and keyboard opening into a wide-open jam. The video, animated by Michael Arthur, draws on the imagery of Newman’s lyrics alongside his and keyboardist/vocalist Kathryn Calder’s hooky refrain, “I didn’t see you there.”

Watch the visual for “Votive” below:

The Former Site Of Tracklist:

1. Great Princess Story
2. Pure Sticker Shock
3. Ballad Of The Last Payphone
4. Spooky Action
5. Wish You Could See Me I’m Killing It
6. Votive
7. The Wine Remembers The Water
8. Calligraphy
9. Bonus Mai Tais
10. The Former Site Of