altopalo have announced their new album, frenemy, out September 23rd via Nettwerk. The announcement arrives in conjunction with the release of their new single, “Altopalo“, out today. Listen to it now below.
frenemy will include the band’s first outside feature from Bartees Strange, a musician they’ve had a relationship with for years, as well as a small contribution from Dora Jar. The album serves as a frank and deeply relatable portrait of a band forced to reckon with their own fragilities rather than sweep them under the rug for the sake of keeping going, and as such is altopalo’s most personal and most triumphant record yet.
The video for “Altopalo,” directed by Nicole Lipp, brings a playfulness to the track, though it’s not without meaning: in matching jumpsuits, the four musicians trudge on in an uphill battle. Pulling one another in a red wagon and through the creative music-making process, they have breakthroughs, sometimes coasting full speed downhill, but always prepped to climb back up to the top.
The band has also announced upcoming October shows in NYC, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Dates are listed below.
altopalo on tour
Oct 8th – Brooklyn, NY – Public Records
Oct 11th – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Oct 15th – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon