Early-2000s indie rock gods The Strokes blessed fans with their first new set of songs in three years Thursday, the first order of business from frontman Julian Casablancas as he launched his new radio show on Sirius’ XMU channel. The new EP can be heard on Spotify right at this very moment.
The batch of new material features rollicking guitar layering and driving beats, and is called called Future Present Past EP. Containing three songs and one Fabio Moretti-crafted remix, the new EP is an excellent return to form for the band, who have been on-again, off-again for years.
In addition to the new EP, the band released a quirky video interview from the studio, which shows them talking about what it would be like to play the Super Bowl halftime show, how they want to play basketball with President Barack Obama, their faith in the internet, and more. It’s a funny little addition to the release that longtime fans of the famously tongue-in-cheek bandmates should enjoy thoroughly.
Fans have known for some time that new music from The Strokes would likely hit their ears this year, after rumors of the band recording in Mexico first surfaced last summer. More recently, a video was displayed on buildings in New York and London, with the words Future Present Past prominently displayed — a not-so-subtle advertisement that led many to believe new sounds were imminent.
The new EP is a welcome throwback for longtime listeners, as the band haven’t released a new compilation of songs since 2013’s Comedown Machine — a record that didn’t see a corresponding tour. This year, they are scheduled to play at New York’s popular summer festival Governor’s Ball on June 3, in addition to a few other headlining dates this festival season.
The band will likely play all three of their new songs (though probably not the remix) live during their limited summer dates, but no EP-release tour has been announced. The new EP was originally slated to hit stores and the internet on June 3, but it appears to have been posted early to the Swedish streaming service — much to the delight of our ears.
Pre-Order Future Present Past EP on iTunes
Updated on 05-26-16 by Parker Hall: Updated to reflect the fact that the EP is now available on Spotify.
