Since being signed to Sub Pop Records, Arbor Labor Union (formerly Pinecones) have seemed eager to show off their new streamlined sound. From their first single, “Radiant Mountain Road,” to this latest cut, “Mr. Birdsong,” there is a driving energy which pulses beneath their music, keeping the listener hypnotized beneath a mixture of post-punk and the ’90s alternative sound which made Sub Pop famous.

“Mr. Birdsong” is a refreshingly austere take on psychedelic rock in a scene overburdened by the jam heavy psych of Ty Segall and other disciples of ’60s garage rock, and it’s a sound which Arbor Labor Union has been perfecting since the release of Plays Cosmic Hits in 2014. The band’s repetitious use of simple riffs never bleeds into the territory of boredom, instead allowing the listener to slowly digest the microscopic intricacies of the song. More than anything, the new track demonstrates that Arbor Labor Union are getting serious about songwriting, cutting out the excess of previous material while still retaining the weirdness which makes their revisionist rock and roll so infectious. Give it a listen below.

Arbor Labor Union’s Sup Pob debut, I Hear You, arrives May 13. Pre-orders are available here.

In support of their forthcoming album, the band is embarking on a month-long tour of the U.S. that will carry them up the East Coast, through the Midwest to the West Coast, and back home across the Southwest and Southeast. The tour concludes with a June 17 homecoming performance at the 40 Watt. Check out the full list of dates below.

Arbor Labor Union U.S. Tour Dates
May 14 – West Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
May 15 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle Back Room
May 16 – Washington, DC – DC9
May 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
May 19 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
May 20 – Cambridge, MA – Club Bohemia
May 21 – Buffalo, NY – The Leopard Lounge at Town Ballroom
May 22 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
May 24 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
May 25 – Madison, WI – The Frequency
May 26 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
May 27 – Iowa City, IA – The Mill
May 28 – Omaha, NE – Milk Run
May 29 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake Lounge
May 31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Jun 02 – Nampa, ID – Flying M Coffee
Jun 03 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
Jun 04 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Jun 06 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Jun 07 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
Jun 08 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Hi-Fi
Jun 10 – San Diego, CA – Hideout
Jun 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
Jun 13 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
Jun 14 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
Jun 15 – Houston, TX – Rudyard’s
Jun 17 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt

More Info
Bandcamp: arborlaborunion.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @Arbor-Labor-Union-1656683511216436
Instagram: @arborlaborunion
Twitter: @ArborLaborUnion