The Roots and Elvis Costello announced their forthcoming collaborative LP Wise Up Ghost yesterday. The project, described by ?uestlove as "a moody, brooding affair" full of "cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies" is slated to drop this fall via Blue Note.
?uesto first hinted at the record's existence in an interview with Billboard in January. The project - detailed by ?uestlove during a recent interview with Fuse TV - was recorded during super secret sessions at Feliz Habitat Studios. The remaining material was produced at Elvis Costello's Hookery Crookery Studios. ?uestlove and Elvis Costello teamed with Steve Mandel to round out the production. There is also a guest appearance from La Marisoul of Los Angeles based group La Santa Cecilia. The record features a tight collection of tracks whittled down to 13 or 14 from about 20 recordings - a process ?uestlove summed up by saying, "I went stark and dark on the music, Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound shit.” Originally distributed on Record Store Day by way of a small batch of white label test pressings, Wise Up Ghost is slated for full release to the public on September 17th. Keep an ear out for more.
