Fat Possum Records has shared “To Keep And To Be Kept,” a new track from Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders’ upcoming album Playmates, due February 24, 2015. The track, which features guest vocals from Sharon Van Etten, who noted that “Ladder’s voice has a dusky richness to it that rivals the likes of Nick Cave and Mark Lanegan.”

Following on the heels of the announcement of their status as official SXSW 2015 artists, the group has announced a show at Rough Trade in Brooklyn, NY on March 26, 2015. A US tour is soon to be announced, as are their SXSW performance dates.

Three years after HURTSVILLE and a move from the inner city of Sydney, Australia to the Blue Mountains, Jack Ladder returns with his new album Playmates. The album is produced by Kim Moyes of The Presets, and mixed by David Wrench (Jungle, FKA Twigs, Caribou, Seekae). The Dreamlanders – Kirin J. Callinan (whose own album Embracism was released last year on Terrible / XL) Laurence Pike (of PVT) and Donny Benet – reunite to play on the record, with Sharon Van Etten contributing vocals to two tracks.

Playmates will be Jack Ladder’s fourth album, and his first on Fat Possum. His previous two albums (2008’s Love Is Gone and 2011’s HURTSVILLE) were shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

There is a notable presence of Sharon Van Etten. On working with Jack Ladder, she says, “When I first saw Jack Ladder…it blew me away. He’s got a darkness to his vocals and lyrics but with a wink. It was really fun and an interesting challenge and his songs are killer. I feel lucky to have been a part of it.” On singing her part on “To Keep And To Be Kept”, Van Etten revealed “I usually try to hang back because I aim to support people whenever I sing with someone, so I was cautious with the duet. I just leaned into him. It was really fun and an interesting challenge and his songs are killer.”

Playmates tracklist:
1. Come On Back This Way
2. Her Hands
3. Model Worlds
4. Reputation Amputation
5. Let Me Love You
6. To Keep And To Be Kept
7. The Miracle
8. Neon Blue
9. Our Ascension
10. Slow Boat To China

Jack Ladder upcoming shows:
3/17-22 – SXSW – Austin, TX
3/26 – Rough Trade – Brooklyn, NY