Neko Case Returns With New Album 'Hell-On,' Out June 1
On June 1st, Anti- will release Neko Case’s ‘Hell-On,’ an indelible collection of colorful, enigmatic storytelling that features some of her most daring, through-composed arrangements to date. Listen to title track “Hell-On” below.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ESUXxAbZVZ4
Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon: https://ffm.to/nekocase-hell-on
[youtube id=ESUXxAbZVZ4]
Produced by Neko Case, ‘Hell-On’ is simultaneously her most accessible and most challenging album, in a rich and varied career that’s offered plenty of both. ‘Hell-On’ is rife with withering self-critique, muted reflection, anthemic affirmation and Neko’s unique poetic sensibility. Neko enlisted Bjorn Yttling of (Peter Bjorn & John) to co-produce 6 tracks with her in Stockholm, Sweden where she mixed the 12 track album with Lasse Mårtén.
‘Hell-On’ features performances by Beth Ditto, Mark Lanegan, k.d. Lang, AC Newman, Eric Bachmann, Kelly Hogan, Doug Gillard, Laura Veirs, Joey Burns and many more. And, with that, it’s best to hand this off to Neko….
My name is Neko Case. I am a music producer, songwriter, and musician. I just finished a record called ‘Hell-On’ with a cast of talented musicians, techs, label folks and friends.
What I want you to know about me isn’t too much, nor do I want to over talk it. What you take away on your own, as a listener is most important. I worked really hard and I was present for every second of this project. Producing a record is a huge task and there were times I was deep in the weeds, but that is normal for a record that takes a year plus. The weeds aren’t so bad. There were a lot of break-through moments, belly-laughs, sleepless nights and grubby, shiny jeans. In the end it was all worth it and I am so proud of how it turned out, and I am so grateful to have worked with such dedicated, giving artists to make it happen.
There were a few challenges during the making of this record from small (scheduling difficulties, and occasional miscommunication) to large (my house burning down while I was overseas.) But none of them are the story of this recording, the songs are the story. They are my best self. They are everything I’ve worked for since I was a kid, whether I knew it or not.
I write songs from a feeling of solidarity with folks who feel alone or isolated, I think I’m trying to comfort people in this way. It’s not a forceful way rather "No commitment necessary;" take it if you want it, take it as you can.
My style is odd, I don’t know what genre this is. I don’t have a pretty voice or a trained voice, and I am constantly disappointed that I don’t have a “tough” voice, no matter how hard I practice, but it’s mine, and for all its loud, heavy-handed, nasal, vibrato-less qualities I accept it. The closest sound I have found to compare it to is Bulgarian Folk singing. My Eastern ancestors could have been proud of me a century ago? I could have been a droning “caller of wasps” perhaps? I just invented that job, I like the sound of it.
The songs are who I believe myself to be and that will change, but for now that’s how it is and I’m very satisfied with that.
Neko Case will hit the road this summer, including dates with Ray LaMontagne and at Sasquatch Festival — full dates below.
Neko Case is the consummate career artist--fearless and versatile, with a fierce work ethic and a constant drive to search deeper within herself for creative growth. Rolling Stone calls her “one of America’s best and most ambitious songwriters,” while Pitchfork deemed her last release, 2013’s 'The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You,’ “the most potent album of her career.” 2015’s ’Truckdriver, Gladiator, Mule’ box set looked back on her groundbreaking 20 years in music, packaging together 8 classic albums that track her unique journey from punk/country torchbearer to “essentially peerless” (NPR) avant pop icon.
‘Hell-On’ Tracklist:
Hell-On
Last Lion Of Albion
Halls of Sarah
Bad Luck
Curse of the I-5 Corridor
Gumball Blue
Dirty Diamond
Oracle Of The Maritime
Winnie
Sleep All Summer
My Uncle’s Navy
Pitch Or Honey
Tour Dates:
May 27 — Gorge Amphitheatre, WA @ Sasquatch Festival
May 28 — Boise, ID @ Summerfield At Memorial Stadium*
May 30 — Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheatre*
June 1 — Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre*
June 2 — San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre*
June 3 — Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre*
June 5 — Phoenix, CA @ Comerica Theatre*
June 8 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory*
June 9 — Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheatre*
June 10 — Sugarland, TX @ Smart Financial Centre*
June 12 — Rogers, AR @ Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion*
June 13 — Southaven, MS @ Bankplus Amphitheatre at Snowden Grove*
June 15 — Indianapolis, IN @ Farm Bureau Lawn at White River Amphitheatre*
June 16 — Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island*
June 17 — Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheatre*
June 19 — Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre*
June 20 — Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion*
June 22 — Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing*
June 23 — Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
June 24 — Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
June 26 — Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre*
June 28 — Bangor, ME @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion*
June 29 — North Adams, MA @ MASS MOCA*
June 30 — Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica*
July 1 — Detroit, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre*
July 3 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall*
July 4 — Cooperstown, NY @ Brewery Ommegang*
July 6 — Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field*
July 7 — St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House*
July 8 — Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre*
July 10 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
*w/ Ray LaMontagne