Philly-based Friendship have released a new single, “Alive Twice.” The track is taken from their forthcoming new album Love the Stranger which is set for release on July 29 via Merge Records. Like the LP, today’s single—which is both sparse and gorgeous—was co-produced by the band and Bradford Krieger.

Friendship’s Dan Wriggins shares the inspiration for the song title: “The poet Linda Gregg dedicated her book of poetry Too Bright to See to her lover, Jack Gilbert, with an all-caps inscription: ‘IT WAS LIKE BEING ALIVE TWICE.’ The phrase shows up later in her poem ‘The Defeated.’ I wasn’t going to steal it, but I looked it up and found that Gregg had taken the phrase from the Tang Dynasty poet Li Po. I think Eileen Myles talks about it, too.” Of the recording, he says, “This one went through a unique process. I recorded the delayed Wurlitzer line and vocals alone, then left the studio. Michael, Peter, and Jon, who hadn’t heard the song before, went in together and improvised over it with piano, Rhodes, and organ. Finally, we dropped some of the Wurlitzer, creating an extremely cool, roomy effect.” Michael Kaplan shot the video for “Alive Twice.” Wriggins says, “I kept asking Michael if we could work zombies into the video. He said it would cost too much. The Black Angel at Iowa City's Oakland Cemetery, however, is the site of some pretty creepy legends.” 

Friendship previously shared the album’s “Hank” which saw support from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, and WXPN, among others, and “Ugly Little Victory" about which BrooklynVegan said, “It’s as lovely and tender as you’d expect from this band, and Dan’s plainspoken yet emotive vocals sound as great as ever.” 

Pre-order Love the Stranger on CD, LP, and opaque “blue galaxy” Peak Vinyl in the Merge store, where you can bundle any format with an exclusive Friendship t-shirt, and at participating independent record shops. The band will be heading out on a North American tour with Tenci, kicking off August 2 in Nashville; get your tickets today!

Friendship on tour:
Aug 02 Nashville, TN – DRKMTTR*
Aug 03 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre Side State*
Aug 04 Durham, NC – The Pinhook*
Aug 05 Washington, DC – Songbyrd*
Aug 06 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*
Aug 07 New York NY – TV Eye*
Aug 09 Boston, MA – The Rockwell*
Aug 10 Montreal, QC – Casa del Popolo*
Aug 11 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel*
Aug 12 Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe*
Aug 13 Detroit, MI – The Underground @ DIME*
Aug 14 Chicago, IL – The Hideout*
* w/ Tenci