The New Pornographers today share “Spooky Action,” the latest single from their highly anticipated new album The Former Site Of. Watch the new visualizer below, and pre-order The Former Site Of ahead of its March 27 release date on CD, LP, or limited-edition red and orange marble “Mai Tai” Peak Vinyl from the Merge store. A clear with black splatter “Spilled Ink” variant is also available via The New Pornographers' webstore. 

“Spooky Action” draws inspiration from the Cassini-Huygens mission, a NASA satellite which orbited Saturn for 13 years before diving into the planet and destroying itself. Frontperson A.C. Newman sings, “And I see the lone propeller, labor of moonlets, then one last turn… to take in Titan, the famous giant, the burning god // Oh have you seen the stray arc of Daphnis, at Keeler’s edge, the way that it’s meant to be seen?”

On The Former Site Of, the tenth studio album from the acclaimed supergroup, ten short stories of people at personal and societal extremes are collected as meticulously crafted pop songs. The record was first crafted by Newman in his home studio before being brought to the band, composed of Newman, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey. The group is joined for the first time by storied session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple). Josh Wells (Destroyer, Black Mountain) will join as the touring drummer for the band’s upcoming dates in the Spring. 

Of the making of the album, Newman notes, “Having time in my studio really opened things up. I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there.” 

The band will kick off their U.S. tour on April 22 at The Wilbur in Boston with stops at New York’s Webster Hall, Los Angeles’ Teragram Ballroom, Chicago’s The Metro, Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club and many more, with support from Will Sheff of Okkervil River. Tickets are available now at thenewpornographers.com, full details and a list of dates can be found below.

The New Pornographers on tour:
Apr 22 Boston, MA – The Wilbur*
Apr 23 New York, NY – Webster Hall*
Apr 24 Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre*
Apr 25 Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall*
Apr 27 Detroit, MI – El Club*
Apr 29 Milvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre*
Apr 30 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues*
Mat 01 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall*
May 02 Minneapolis, MN – The Fitzgerald Theater*
May 03 Chicago, IL – The Metro*
May 05 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre*
May 06 Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room*
May 08 Seattle, WA – The Showbox*
May 09 Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater*
May 11 San Francisco, CA – The Castro Theatre*
May 12 Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom*
May 13 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom*
May 15 Austin, TX – Mohawk Outside*
May 16 Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater
May 17 Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea's Live*
May 19 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse*
May 20 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom*
May 21 Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club*

* w/Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)