Michael Stipe and Big Red Machine unveil new collaboration "No Time For Love Like Now"

"No Time For Love Like Now" was first teased by Stipe back in March in a performance video.

Stipe did reveal that the new song featured The National's Aaron Dessner, but it seems that the collaboration is actually with Big Red Machine, the band made up of Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon.

Rolling Stone notes that Vernon plays electric guitar on the track. Dessner produced the track and his brother and The National bandmate Bryce Dessner orchestrated it.

Aaron Dessner tells Rolling Stone of the collaboration, "On a whim, I shared a folder of in-progress BRM sketches with Michael last year, and it was exciting when he really gravitated to a few of them. Michael wrote the lyrics to "No Time for Love Like Now" last fall, but when the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and social-distancing and self-isolation descended, they felt like they were written about this time all along and perhaps the message resonates especially now."

He adds, "I’ve looked up to Michael and R.E.M. for so long; they were really such a huge influence on us and we became friends on tour, but I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to make a song with him. Working together to arrange this song in person and ultimately finish it from our respective isolation at home was definitely one of the more surreal experiences I’ve had as a musician. He has an incredible vision and focus for the art that he makes."