Thurston Moore will release By The Fire, on September 25, on The Daydream Library Series. The Sonic Youth founder’s single “Siren” is out today on Bandcamp, accompanied by a short film of a mermaid fantasy under the sea here (YouTube teaser video here). This is Thurston Moore’s seventh solo album, and features musicians Deb Googe (My Bloody Valentine) on bass and backing vocals, Jon Leidecker aka ‘Wobbly’ (of Negativland) on electronics, James Sedwards on guitar, and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, as well as Jem Doulton, alternating on drums.

“Hashish” was the first single from the album to be released and is described by Moore as “an ode to the narcotic of love in our shared responsibility to each other during isolation.” The song includes a video with footage from The Thurston Moore Group’s tour in early 2020 in Europe, as well as footage of Thurston quarantined in his home during the past few months “with respect to the sacred healing truth of nature.” The second single released from By The Fire was the righteous “Cantaloupe” with a video featuring friends in Thurston’s local skate park.

Daydream Library on By The Fire

“By The Fire is music in flames. 2020 is our time for radical change and collective awareness and Thurston Moore has written nine songs of enlightenment, released to a world on fire. Taking a cue from Albert Ayler’s ‘music is the healing force of the universe,’ this recording offers songs as flames of rainbow energy, where the power of love becomes our call. These are love songs in a time where creativity is our dignity, our demonstration against the forces of oppression. By The Fire is a gathering, a party of peace — songs in the heat of the moment.”

Some of the songs feature all of the musicians whilst a few tunes are solo guitar and vocals. By The Fire will come out on The Daydream Library Series distributed in North America by long-standing Indie communitarians and friends at Forced Exposure. The Daydream Library Series record label was founded in 2018 especially to release London Afro-punk feminist trio Big Joanie’s debut album Sistahs.

Thurston Moore
Track Listing
The Daydream Library Series/Forced Exposure

1.) Hashish (5:54)
2.) Cantaloupe (4:44)
3.) Breath (10:54)
4.) Siren (12:20)
5.) Calligraphy (5:20)
6.) Locomotives (16:50)
7.) Dreamers Work (4:53)
8.) They Believe In Love [When They Look At You] (7:49)
9.) Venus (14:20) instrumental