Health invite Xiu Xiu on freak-pop mini-symphony “DELICIOUS APE”

Experimental pop masters collaborate to explore new territories in sound

Xiu Xiu have been at the forefront of the independent avant-garde noise scene for over two decades, often infusing their harsh, experimental compositions with catchy pop and luscious melodies. Like ourselves, HEALTH are obviously great fans and proud to collaborate with their idols, as eloquently explained in their statement accompanying this new track (see below)

The track is like a bizarre mini-symphony in multiple movements. The first starts after a noisy introduction with a dreamy, string-heavy segment featuring silky vocals. Later the sound evolves to a relaxed trip-hop groove with a jittery edge, like a Buddha Bar lounge were everyone is live-wired. And then it explodes!

After several minutes of nervous bliss, the bands carpet bomb us with electronic noise, the beat becoming a thunderstorm, the synths air-raid sirens. It lasts barely a minute but it shakes us into undivided attention. They reward us with a last bit of calm, a closing chapter that feels like gliding over the previously assaulted soundscape and surveying the destruction.

With few words and minimal composition, Health and Xiu Xiu take us on a journey across emotional hills and valleys, then leave us wanting more.

Statement from HEALTH

“The noise/DIY scene of the mid 00’s was characterized by an incredibly high tolerance for ‘difficult’ musical experiences. In many ways, the petit arms race to fortify our listening habits with the avant garde while competing with a handful of unknown bands to create the most challenging music possible was ironically juvenile and provincial. A preoccupation with abrasive experimentalism is not exactly a recipe for toe tapping or hummable melody, and many of us obscured the more enjoyable elements of music-making and listening in favor of weird shit…But not Xiu Xiu goddamn it.
No other project of the most formative era for our band even comes close to so perfectly combining the elements of free noise, drone music, and experimental electronics with raw emotion, melody and choruses. Nobody else even had choruses. Not many of us are left of this particular vintage. Most of the scene moved on to djing house and starting podcasts. Xiu Xiu is still making great and uniquely moving music. We are simply happy to get the chance to be a part of it. What did The Minutemen say? “Mr. Narrator, this is Bob Dylan to me.” Yeah, something like that.”