Renowned East European dream-poppers Pia Fraus has announced their new album Empty Parks, slated for release on January 20, 2020. Ahead of that, The Big Takeover the pleasure of premiering the single “Love Sports”. This follows up their most recent singles for “Hidden Parks” and “SweetSunday Snow”, complete with remixes.

Pia Fraus is made up of Eve Komp, Kärt Ojavee, Rein Fuks, Reijo Tagapere, and Joosep Volk. Formed in 1998 between six art school students, Pia Fraus have released five studio albums and a handful of EPs on various record labels. They boast a sublime mixture of dream-pop, subtle shoegaze, and beautiful electronica, blissfully topped off with shimmering layered male-female vocals in tandem.

Produced and mixed by John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, Stereolab, Broken Social Scene, Teenage Fanclub) at Soma Electronic Music Studios in Nevada City, California, and mastered by 21-time Estonian Music Award winner Lauri Liivak, Empty Parks was recorded in two separate kitchens and a windowless basement, as well as bassist Reijo Tagapere’s barn.

A flagship of East European the dream-pop/shoegaze scene, the East Europeans’ new output calls to mind such artists as Radio Dept., The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Rocketship, Ride, Stereolab, and Chapterhouse, as well as DIIV and Airiel. This single in particular, as well as the first two tracks previewed from this album, make for a fantastic introduction for those otherwise not already immersed in the world of Pia Fraus. Those more familiar with the band’s prolific background will also welcome this new album, with more than half of the tracks being reasonable nominees as impressive stand-alone singles.

“This is the poppiest album we’ve ever made. It’s melancholy and happy at the same time – definitely happier than our latest ‘Field Ceremony’ album. To work with John McEntire was my teenage wet dream. I have been a massive fan of John’s work over the years, and I never thought that one day I have a chance to sit next to this guy and make my own record. Of course, it was quite challenging and stressful for me,” says frontman Rein Fuks.

“Although the process of making this album wasn’t been the easiest, I associate this album relates mostly with the feeling of happiness and positivism. The awareness of being able to be hopeful and make jokes about life even if everything seems to going downhill,” says vocalist Eve Komp.

The band’s most recent album Field Ceremony was released n 2018 by Shelflife Records (USA), Vinyl Junkie Recordings (Japan), and their own imprint Seksound (EU). Some highlights of the 21 years since the band formed include working with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, who produced their 2008 album After Summer, and the 7” vinyl split single “Mute The Birds” / “Ships Will Sail” with Ulrich Schnauss.

Pia Fraus has shared the stage with such artists as Ulrich Schnauss, Animal Collective, Spinning Coin, Jane Weaver, and Mark Peters (Engineers). They have toured Japan, China, Taiwan, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Latvia, and Finland.

Their music has been remixed by a vast array of recognized artists, including Vanishing Twin, His Name Is Alive, Teenage Fanclub, Ulrich Schnauss, Hood, Mark Peters, Airiel, Mahogany, Lightships, Picnic, Wolfredt, Jatun, Bill Wells, Guther, Miwon, Fleckfumie, Mondii, Future Pilot Aka, Seeland, International Airport, Galaktlan, and Pastacas.

Drummer Joosep Volk adds, “Personally, Empty Parks means a lot. It’s sort of a homecoming to me. 16 years has past since I last played with the rest of the group and when Rein asked me to return, I never thought twice. Understanding that sometimes things do fall apart and you just have to pick yourself up and deal with it. Life is deviously clever, we just have to endure.”

The Empty Parks LP released on January 20 by Seksound (worldwide) and on Vinyl Junkie in Japan. The album will be distributed by Darla Records in the USA. It will be available on limited Orange Vinyl (200 hand-numbered and signed copies), Black Vinyl (500 hand-numbered and signed copies), and limited Compact Disc (500 hand-numbered and signed copies). It will also be available digitally everywhere, including Spotify. It can be pre-ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp

Also in January, Pia Fraus will be playing a series of live concerts in Europe and Japan, where they will be playing several dates with peers Ringo Deathstarr and Bertoia.

CREDITS
Eve Komp – vocals, synth
Kärt Ojavee – synth
Rein Fuks – guitar, vocals, synth, tambourine, shaker
Reijo Tagapere – bass
Joosep Volk – drums, electronic percussions
Kristel Eplik – back vocals
All songs written and arranged by Rein Fuks
Artwork by Kaarel Vahtramäe

Recorded by Rein Fuks at Seksound Studio, Tallinn, Estonia.
Synths and electronic percussions recorded at the country house, Loe village, Estonia.
Drums, acoustic guitars and some electric guitars recorded by Erko Niit at Neat Beat Studio, Pärnu, Estonia.

Mixed by John McEntire at Soma Electronic Music Studios, Nevada City, CA
Produced by John McEntire, Rein Fuks and Lauri Liivak.
Mastered by Lauri Liivak at Peeter Salmela Studio, Tallinn, Estonia, and Lauri Liivak Mastering Studio, Pärnu, Estonia.

TOUR DATES
Jan. 17 Tallinn, Estonia – Von Krahli Theater
Jan. 18 Tartu, Estonia – Armastuse saal, Aparaaditehas
Jan. 28 Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan – (with Bertoia)
Jan. 30 Nagoya, Aichi Japan – Tightrope (with Ringo Deathstarr)
Jan. 31 Osaka, Japan – americamura FANJ twice (with Ringo Deathstarr)

Also check out the first two tracks they released as teasers for this album:

PIA FRAUS
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