Remember The Postal Service? Well, of course you do, but remember how Ben Gibbard and Dntel originally put together the album via email? Well, it seems that is just the beginning of the process that began the collaboration between Perry Farrell and David Sitek (TV On The Radio) on the new Jane’s Addiction album, The Great Escape Artist. You may remember that Sitek was asked to sit in when a brief relationship with Duff Mckagan did not pan out (this is a GOOD substitution).
As to how this album will sound, compared with earlier Jane’s Addiction records, Farrell told Spin, “we are taking great risks and writing in ways that we have never written before…We’re producing a really amazing piece of art, an amazing piece of music. It will make people say, ‘This is strangely beautiful.'”
He continued to say this:
Well, all I can say is that we’re on the right track. It would be easy to say, ‘I’ve got a big reputation. You’re not going to tell me how to write a song. I know how to write a song. I know how to play my instrument. And here’s an idea.’ That’s not going to cut it today. Everybody’s ears need to be excited with fresh sounds, interesting chord structures, arrangements, and compositions. And it’s not easy to come up with something original and fresh. What can help you are electronics. They’ve helped me to not rush and not be full of myself and realize my reputation isn’t going to get you by.
He was also asked if Sitek would be a permanent member of the band:
Well, Dave’s in TV on the Radio and he loves producing. I raised the idea of him playing with us. It makes sense since he’s helping write and record. But I sense that his heart is in producing and writing and constantly doing that. I’m just happy that we’re friends and writing partners. He’s like a pretty girl that I’m sleeping with but don’t have to marry [laughs]. But playing live is where it’s at. It’s as important as a record and, some might say, even more important. The record is a calling card and it’s a tombstone — it’s what you leave behind and also what you’re presenting to people.
There is much more to the interview, and all is juicy. We recommend you check it out.
