Sylvan Esso announce first new album in four years, Ow ∞

Last month, Sylvan Esso returned with "Hot Slob", the first preview of what was to come from the Durham band's new collection of songs. Ow ∞ follows 2022's No Rules Sandy, with "Concrete Glen" offering a second glimpse into an album described as "a trust fall into our dystopian present".

Ow ∞ was produced by the pair, who have spent the past four years tinkering with the songs at their Chapel Hill studio. It's the longest amount of time that they've spent making an album, with vocalist Amelia Meath reflecting: “One of my favourite ways of producing in general is to come up with an idea and then take out a third of it. One, it makes things interesting and exciting, but also it makes your ear ask a question."

"And it kind of forces the listener to be creative as well," she continues. "To try to fill that space with something, which I find as a listener to be really exciting and interesting. Particularly with pop music, because it's all about fulfilling a promise. You know this melodic structure, you know, we're going to the four here. Not doing it is always the thing that makes people fall in love with a song or a person."

The album features live guitar, bass, keys, vibraphone, woodwinds, Innato, organ, piano and electronics, and sees Meath and co-founder Nick Sanborn invite a cast of collaborators, including six drummers. The pair are joined by Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Dijon), BJ Burton (Bon Iver, Charli XCX), Matt Douglas (the Mountain Goats), Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Jake Luppen (Hippo Campus, Samia), TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood, Neneh Cherry), James Mapley-Brittle (GRRL), Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Bon Iver), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) and Joe Westerlund (Megafaun).

Following the release of Ow ∞, Sylvan Esso will hit the road for a full-band tour of North America throughout 2026 and 2027, with two in-store UK shows scheduled at Brighton's Resident Records (20 September) and Rough Trade in London (21 September).

Ow ∞ artwork

Ow ∞ tracklist

"Entertainment & Coca-Cola"
"Flood Season"
"Hot Slob"
"Concrete Glen"
"Back Again"
"Ribbon"
"Sledge"
"Right to Left"
"Good at Pain"
"Jessica"
"On & On"
"Plastic Sword"