Although there have been earlier reports on this project, The Roots have officially announced a new collaborative album with English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. For those who haven't heard, it's called Wise Up Ghost and is scheduled for release on September 17th via Blue Note Records. A small amount of white label test pressings were distributed on Record Store Day (April 20th).
Drummer/DJ/producer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson describes the project as "a moody, brooding affair full of cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies," having first spoken on it in an interview with Billboard back in January. In a more recent interview with Fuse TV, he claims it was recorded during "super secret sessions" at Feliz Habitat Studios and Costello’s Hookery Crookery Studios, where they collaborated with veteran producer/engineer Steve Mandel. "I went stark and dark on the music, Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound shit," said ?uesto of the recording process.
Costello describes the project as "the shortest distance between here and there," claiming that it contains "both rhythm and what is ready." It'll consist of 13-14 tracks chosen from approximately 20 recordings, and features an appearance from La Marisoul of the L.A. group La Santa Cecilia, on a track called "Cinco Minutos Con Vos."
That's all for now. Intrigued?
