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Nov 13, 2018 By Christopher Roberts CHVRCHES

Scottish electro-pop trio CHVRCHES released a new album, Love Is Dead, back in May via Glassnote. Now they have announced a new EP, Hansa Session, that was recorded in Berlin’s Hansa Studios, the same studio where David Bowie recorded his iconic Berlin trilogy with Brian Eno in the 1970s (Low, “Heroes”, Lodger), as well as where albums by U2, Depeche Mode, Iggy Pop, and others were recorded. The five-song EP features new acoustic and string quartet versions of songs from Love Is Dead. It’s due out digitally this Friday via Glassnote, with a 10-inch vinyl release due out December 14. Below is the tracklist and cover art.

CHVRCHES’ Iain Cook had this to say about the EP in a press release: “When we had the opportunity to record at Hansa we jumped at it even though we were in the middle of a hectic tour. It is such hallowed ground for me - my heroes Bowie, Depeche, Iggy, Siouxsie, Tangerine Dream, Nick Cave amongst others made arguably their best work in that building - and we hoped that when we went there, we would capture even just a tiny bit of that energy. It was also a chance to hold a mirror up to these five songs and look at them from a different angle, and that is something that you don’t always get the chance to do as an artist.”

Cook wrote the string arrangements, which were recorded separately at Bad Robot in LA.

Singer Lauren Mayberry had this to say: “It was really fun to try to reinterpret the songs and still communicate the messages and emotions with different arrangements. Once an album is out and you’re on the road, it’s harder to be creative so it’s exciting when those opportunities present themselves, and getting to make music in places like Hansa and Bad Robot is really a bucket list thing for all of us.”

Previously CHVRCHES shared Love Is Dead‘s first four singles, “Get Out” (which was our #1 Song of the Week), “My Enemy” (which features the guest vocals of Matt Berninger of The National and EL VY and was also one of our Songs of the Week), the ultra shiny “Never Say Die” (which was once again one of our Songs of the Week), and “Miracle” (as well as a science fiction-themed video for “Miracle”). They also stopped by Ellen to make their daytime television debut and perform “Miracle” and shared a video for “Graffiti.”

Greg Kurstin (Adele, Tegan and Sara) co-produced nine of the album’s 13 songs and Steve Mac produced one song, “Miracle.” CHVRCHES are Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty.

CHVRCHES were on the cover of one of our print issues in 2015 and you can read the in-depth 8-page 5,600-word cover story feature on the band here. You can also read our bonus digital magazine Q&A with them here.

Hansa Session EP Tracklist:

01. Graffiti
02. Miracle
03. Get Out
04. Heaven/Hell
05. Really Gone

CHVRCHES Tour Dates:

November 14th - Fabrique, Milan, Italy
November 15th - Les Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland
November 16th - Den Atelier, Luxembourg
February 7th - Alexandra Palace, London
February 8th - O2 Academy, Birmingham
February 9th - O2 Academy, Birmingham
February 11th - Rock City, Nottingham
February 12th - O2 Academy, Bournemouth
February 14th - Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
February 15th - Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
February 16th - The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
February 18th - O2 Academy, Newcastle
February 19th - Ulster Hall, Belfast
February 21st - Olympia, Dublin
February 22nd - Olympia, Dublin

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