Sylvan Esso's Big Return
Sylvan Esso Unveil 'Ow ∞,' Their Most Collaborative Album Yet, Alongside 2026 Tour
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Key Points
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Concrete Glen includes a sample of Sigur Rós' Svefn-g-englar, anchoring the track in the band's Icelandic sonic lineage.
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Ow ∞ features a notably large roster of collaborators, including six drummers, alongside well-known contributors such as Daniel Aged, Glenn Kotche, Jake Luppen, and Jenn Wasner.
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Sylvan Esso pulled their catalog from Spotify last year and subsequently announced a giant North American tour for fall 2026, with further dates planned into 2027.
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The album rollout includes worldwide listening events on September 3 and a fall tour kickoff in New York City with a Brooklyn Paramount show on October 14, alongside the release of album artwork and the full tracklist.
Sylvan Esso have announced their fifth studio album, 'Ow ∞', due September 11 on their own Psychic Hotline label — their first release since leaving a major label setup. The Durham-based electropop duo dropped the lead single 'Concrete Glen' alongside the announcement, Stereogum reported.
The album follows 2022's 'No Rules Sandy' and marks their most collaborative record to date. It features a wide roster of musicians and reflects over two years of daily studio work, according to Flood Magazine.
Sigur Rós Sample Anchors the Lead Single
'Concrete Glen' samples Sigur Rós' 1997 track 'Svefn-g-englar,' rooting the song in an Icelandic ambient sound. The single arrived with a music video and is one of two tracks released ahead of the album. The other is 'Hot Slob,' Chapelboro reported.
Amelia Meath described the duo's approach as intentionally trimming ideas down. The goal is to spark curiosity and push creativity forward. That philosophy shapes the sound across the album's pop-forward experiments, Clash Music noted.
Six Drummers and a Long List of Collaborators
'Ow ∞' features a notably large community of musicians. The album includes six drummers, according to Flood Magazine. Named contributors include Daniel Aged, BJ Burton, Matt Douglas, Glenn Kotche, Jake Luppen, and Jenn Wasner.
The duo has been working on the record since 2022, with daily studio sessions involving both Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, Clash Music reported. It is their longest and most deeply collaborative project to date.
Sylvan Esso Left Spotify Before This Release
Before announcing the album, Sylvan Esso pulled their entire catalog from Spotify. The move signaled a shift toward independence. The new album is the first release on their own label, Psychic Hotline, Stereogum noted.
The album rollout also includes worldwide listening events on September 3, eight days before the release date. The full tracklist and album artwork have already been shared, Stereoboard reported.
Fall 2026 Tour Kicks Off in New York City
Sylvan Esso announced a North American tour set for fall 2026. The run opens in New York City with a show at Brooklyn Paramount on October 14. More dates are planned into 2027, Chapelboro reported.
The tour follows a period of major changes for the duo — a new label, a Spotify exit, and their most ambitious album yet. Fans can expect the live rollout to expand significantly as 2026 approaches, according to Stereoboard.
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