On Wednesday, The Avett Brothers announced a forthcoming album, Closer Than Together, with a new single, "High Steppin'," and its accompanying video. Closer Than Together will be the Avetts' tenth studio album and their first full-length since 2016's True Sadness. In May of this year, the Avetts released the song "Sun, Flood, or Drought," which appeared in the documentary film, The Biggest Little Farm.

As the lead single for Closer Than Together, "High Steppin'" begins with an infectious synth beat slightly reminiscent of True Sadness's dance- and hand-clap inducing "Ain't No Man," but "High Steppin'" quickly morphs into a richly layered arrangement with piano, drums, strings and vocal harmonies. The upbeat nature of the song belies its heavier lyrical theme, which is accentuated by Seth Avett's spoken-word interlude that reflects on life's challenges and its impermanence.

Scott Avett, who is also a notable visual artist, told Rolling Stone, "I've always loved a contrast, if it's colors or if it's themes, if it's sound. Something that is sort of fatal, or critical, or just massively stressful contrasted with … more of a playful sound."

The accompanying video for "High Steppin'" echoes those contrasts. Directed by longtime collaborator Crackerfarm (aka Mike Beyer), the video looks to have been shot in the North Carolina Piedmont not far from the Avetts' hometown. In the video, Scott Avett plays a confident man in a rhinestone-spangled Nudie suit who suddenly confronts his own mortality as Death — played by Seth Avett — forces a rethink. But the video ends on a hopeful note with a full-company dance sequence reminiscent of a Broadway musical as all are bathed in golden light.

The album is expected to release on Oct. 4, 2019, on the American Recordings/Republic Records label.

External Link

The Avett Brothers - official site

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• Get to know the Steppers in 'High Steppin' - the dancers in the new Avett Brothers' video