After working on its new album in Vancouver, British Columbia; Dublin, Ireland; Athens, Ga; and Miami, REM manager Bertis Downs reported that “the record is just about finished,” reported Wall of Fame online.
In a note posted on the band’s Web site www.remhq.com, Downs says that after a few more days of “final mixing and sequencing,” the disc will be mastered and ready to go.
“It is difficult to describe in words the sound of this record, but I’ll stick with my original thoughts of ‘lush, atmospheric, and melodic,’” Downs writes. “After repeated listening, I would add things like ‘layered’ and ‘dynamic.’
He added that the record would probably be released in April or May.
“The guys have thoroughly enjoyed making this record. We worked on it in three primary segments, early summer in Vancouver, summer turning to fall in Dublin, and the month of November in Miami. All along the way, there were stops in Athens for certain bits of recording. All in all, a great year for REM, doing what Michael, Peter, and Mike most enjoy, making records with good friends, and we now can’t wait until it comes out.”
The band members probably hadn’t anticipated being at the eye of the storm of the US presidential election when they set off for Miami, and though November postings on its Web site suggest that it found the upheaval exhilarating, the trio is no doubt looking forward to jetting from the country again, this time heading for South America.
REM is one of the many acts slated for Brazil’s January Rock in Rio festival, which it will follow with a Jan. 17 show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. – Albawaba.com.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
