Pitchfork

Fans of experimental noise-popsters Iran know that seeing them is even rarer than catching a glimpse of the reclusive Jeff Mangum, but those fans will soon have cause to celebrate. Sort of. The quartet of singer/multi-instrumentalist Aaron Aites, guitarist Kyp Malone (also of TV on the Radio), guitarist/bassist Peter Hoffman (The Mendoza Line), and guitarist Aaron Romanello (Grand Mal), are planning to release an as-yet untitled album sometime this year. Produced by David Andrew Sitek (another member of TV on the Radio and producer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Fever to Tell), the album is being recorded at Gigantic Studios in Tribeca, is expected to be completed in early March, and is not yet attached to a label.

Speaking with Pitchfork by phone last Friday, Aites described the new album as "very hi-fi", and "more structured" and "fully fleshed out" than their previous two outings, Iran and The Moon Boys. He also said it's more lyric-based (in the vein of The Moon Boys), with material sounding "louder and grimmer." They're also planning a single release for "Buddy", but have no firm release date for that either. They do, however, have some track titles:

Buddy
I Can See the Future
Baby Let's Get High One Last Time Together
Where I'm Going
I Already Know You're Wrong
Can I Feel What?
Stay With Me
Airport '77
Airport '79
Digital Clock and Phone

Iran plan to tour in support of the album, but details remain sketchy-- current plans include a few shows in New York in the near future, with a more extensive tour to follow. A man familiar with grim (and loud) things, Aites is currently in the midst of editing a documentary on black metal musicians he made with Audrey Ewell in Norway.