The experimental pop group WHY? have been releasing what they call “movements” of music lately, groups of songs that will feature in a new visual album. Titled AOKOHIO, the video component stars Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black and is directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte. Today, the Yoni Wolf-led group is sharing four songs comprising the fourth movement from the new record, IV. The surgeon nervously goes on, he never claimed to be God.

AOKOHIO’s fourth section is made up of the songs “Narcissistic Lamentation,” “Krevin,” “The Crippled Physician,” and “Ustekinumab.” The suite of songs submerges into watery, abstract vignettes, dressed with found sounds, vocal warping and a palpable air of unease. The centerpiece track seems to be “The Crippled Physician.” Accompanied by airy string plucks, sees Wolf speak-singing obtuse poetics, that seem to eventually cohere into a meta rumination about fame. “When I come off stage they stand in line/ What an old and strange son’s life is mine,” Wolf sings.

Listen to IV. The surgeon nervously goes on, he never claimed to be God. below.

TOUR DATES:
08/14 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi *
08/15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme *
08/16 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
08/17 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace ^
08/18 – Montreal, QC – Le Ministère ^
08/20 – Holyoke, MA – Gateway City Arts ^
08/21 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair ^
08/23 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
08/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer ^
08/25 – Washington DC – U Street Music Hall ^
08/26 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle ^
08/28 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West ^
08/29 – Orlando, FL – The Abbey ^
08/30 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall ^
08/31 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall ^
09/01 – Dallas, TX – Trees ^
09/03 – Austin, TX – Mohawk ^
09/04 – Norman, OK – The Opolis ^
09/05 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf ^
09/06 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom ^
09/07 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom ^
09/08 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room ^
09/10 – Fresno, CA – Strummer’s ^
09/11 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall ^
09/13 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall ^
09/14 – Vancouver BC – The Imperial ^
09/15 – Seattle, WA – Neumos ^
09/17 – Boise, ID – Visual Arts Collective ^
09/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge ^
09/19 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater ^
09/20 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room ^
09/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line ^
09/22 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall ^

* w/ Anna Burch
^ w/ Barrie

AOKOHIO is out 8/9 via Joyful Noise Recordings. Pre-order it here.