You may have missed it, but Hospice by The Antlers is the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to the album of the year discussion (check out the review here). It’s a haunting and real exploration of death that should not be missed. While the album was self-released in March, the band recently rereleased (or “officially released”) the album on Frenchkiss Records last week. Additionally, the just released their first music video for the song “Two” (which can be seen below the jump).
I was able to get ahold of the group’s “multi-instrumentalist” (trumpet, keys, banjo, ect.) Darby Cicci (pictured right) and he was kind enough to take some time from his frantic schedule to answer a few queries.
How did you end up in The Antlers?
Darby: I was good friends with Justin, who used to play bass in the band, and he knew I played trumpet, so they asked me to join. I brought in the bowed banjo too cause trumpet doesn’t make sense all the time.
What was the writing process for Hospice? Did (lead singer/guitarist) Peter (Silberman) bring in lyrics and/or a melody to build upon? Was it more of each person coming up with the parts individually or a group/jam dynamic?
Peter sent me rough instrumental versions with usually just guitar and sampled piano, and said to just add whatever I wanted. The songs didn’t have vocals recorded yet, so I just guessed where the singing would be, worked on some trumpet and banjo sections, and hoped it would make sense when vocals were added. Peter wrote the songs and the whole thing was overdubbed one track at a time (even drums). We only used two cheap mics.
The idea for the theme of the album was built around the previously recorded “Slyvia,” correct? How did it develop from there (song to full album)?
The whole concept was pretty laid out before any of the songs were written, and the writing process was really concurrent with recording the album, so it was all just kinda made at once. The first track I worked on was “Kettering,” but that was just from him giving me four chords at rehearsal one day. I never even heard “Sylvia: An Introduction” until Hospice was almost done. Peter recorded that one on his own sometime after I gave him a Mellotron program.
Since so many of the lyrics seem deeply personal, was the lyrical work based solely on the idea or does it also draw from real experiences as well?
It definitely draws mostly on real experiences. It’s not entirely non-fiction, but it’s pretty close.
What is your favorite track on Hospice and why?
I really like “Sylvia.” The verses especially have this haunting abrasive kind of sound mixed with a gentle pleading, begging kind of feeling for the vocals, if that makes sense. It’s a really pretty balance I think. We’ve been playing with the arrangement a lot lately for the live show and it’s become a darker moodier sort of sound which is really interesting.
How is the live set going?
The live set just keeps getting tighter and bigger and more epic. We’re adding a lot more layers.
What has it been like a buzz has built around the band and album?
Pretty surreal and exciting mostly and a little overwhelming at times, but over all, I couldn’t be happier. It’s weird, you know, when you see all this press on Hospice that just gets e-mailed to you every day, but then at shows more and more people actually come out to see you and it all sinks in how many people are actually connecting with the record and taking their time to try and understand the record completely, and it’s just really inspiring.
Have there been any comparisons people have made between The Antlers and other artists that have seemed really apt, or conversely, any that have confused or baffled you?
I like the Sigur Ros, Talk Talk, and Spiritualized comparisons. I don’t really get the Bon Iver (who I adore) comparisons, since he’s so sparse and acoustic. Arcade Fire is pretty close sometimes for this record, but the next one definitely won’t at all.
What music are you all currently listening to?
I’m trying to listen to as little rock music as possible. Lots of electronic, soul, dub, afro-cuban, experimental, noise — everything really, as long as it’s interesting.
What does the future hold for The Antlers?
A lot of question marks. It’s pretty much music 24/7 right now and music’s a pretty volatile world but it’s going well. We rarely get to come up for air. We’re gonna be touring a lot for sure even when it’s really cold. We’re working on another record. We’re healthy and relatively sane so we’re just gonna keep trying new things.
Finally, what is your favorite album ever and why?
Elliott Smith – XO probably. Maybe Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or John Vanderslice – Cellar Door. XO is when I felt like I finally understood why I need to write music. I could talk all day about any of those records.
For more on The Antlers visit myspace.com/theantlers. And if you haven’t bought Hospice yet, do. Like now.
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