High Violet, the new album from Brooklyn band The National, is their 1st for the famed 4AD label. As astonishingly powerful record, the music on High Violet is wide-ranging in its moods: by turns intimate & rough, expansive & spare, full of stark angles & atmosphere.

A melodic, explosive & beautiful set of songs that finds The National at the height of their collaborative career. It features guest appearances from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Sufjan Stevens & Richard Reed Parry (The Arcade Fire), amongst others.

Biography

The National formed in 1999 & are composed of 2 pairs of brothers: Aaron (guitar, bass, piano) & Bryce (guitar) Dessner & Scott (bass, guitar) & Bryan (drums) Devendorf, with lead singer Matt Berninger the man possessed of that distinctive, hauntingly deep baritone voice.

High Violet is their 5th studio album, following their self-titled 2001 debut & it’s 2003 follow-up, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, both released on the band’s own Brassland Records.

Among many other interesting things the band has been up to - touring with REM, for example - the Dessner
brothers curated the brilliant Dark Was The Night compilation, benefitting the Red Hot Organization.