For the first time in nearly three decades, The Olivia Tremor Control are releasing a new album. Spanning a truly staggering 27 tracks, The Same Place is due out October 23rd via The Elephant 6 Recording Co.
Reportedly taking some 20 years to complete, The Same Place is just the third album from Olivia Tremor Control (following 1996’s Music from the Unrealized Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle and 1999’s Black Foliage: Animation Music Vol. 1). This time around, the collective embraced digital recording techniques, which according to a press release, finds them “even more sonically adventurous.”
The record also delves into “themes of rebirth and the eternal nature of time,” celebrating an “almost Buddhist acceptance of life, struggle, death and transformation.” Those themes come as the band continue grapple with and pay homage to two deceased members, Bill Doss (who passed in 2012 at the age of 43) and Will Hart (who passed in 2024 at the age of 53). The end result is a “triumphant elegy,” and an artifact that “does everything The Olivia Tremor Control ever did well.”
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Added the release, “There are an infinite number of ways to say goodbye to a friend, and an infinite number of ways to say hello to a friend who is no longer there. The Same Place might be the best way to do both. When Will Hart and Bill Doss are remembered, let them be remembered for this.”
The first run of The Olivia Tremor Control ran from the mid-90s to the 2000, when after extensive touring, the band took an unofficial extended break (which included the release of various solo albums). The band then reunited in 2005 for a series of shows before eventually beginning the initial recording process circa 2010/2011. However, recording apparently halted in full with Doss’ death in 2012. The group then picked back up in 2023 alongside Athens producer/musician Jason NeSmith, who was inspired in part after viewing The Elephant 6 Recording Co. documentary. In addition to NeSmith, The Same Place was produced by Derek Almstead (who contributed as far back as 2011, per the press release) and Ron Kwasman.
The Olivia Tremor Control is comprised of remaining members Eric Harris, John Fernandes, Peter Erchick, Derek Almstead, and AJ Griffin (who joined in 2011). Fun fact: Jeff Mangum was a member of an earlier version of the band prior to Doss’ joining in 1994/1995.
As for actual music off the record, The Olivia Tremor Control previously released two singles back in 2024, “Garden of Light” and the title track. Check out a new teaser track, along with the album’s artwork and tracklist, below.
The Same Place Artwork:
The Same Place Tracklist:
01. Begin Now!
02. Advice From the Oceans
03. Timewaster
04. The Spinning Continuous
05. The Same Old Place
06. A Useful Planet, Partially Yellow
07. We Captured a Frame
08. Meeting Ourselves
09. Striping the Orchestra
10. Halfway Down
11. Now Begin
12. Have We Come Round
13. California Demise 4
14. Path of the Parallels I- Follow the Path
15. Path of the Parallels II- It’s Obvious
16. Path of the Parallels III- A River of White
17. Path of the Parallels IV- Membraned Wings
18. Path of the Parallels V- Universe Café
19. Path of the Parallels VI- Last Occupants
20. Path of the Parallels VII- The Same Place
21. Leaf
22. Seen It All
23. Garden of Light
24. It’s Not Impossible (Golden Times)
25. Mirrors Hear Us
26. Impressions Through the Ring
27. Fossil Faun