José González has a lot on his mind right now. This spring, the Gothenburg, Sweden singer-songwriter will follow his 2021 album Local Valley with Against The Dying Of The Light, a new LP concerned with subjects like human devolution and the crumbling of society. You could argue that González contributed to those conditions when he made an AI-generated video for "Parajito," the lovely Spanish-language folk song that he released last year. The man, I suppose, contains multitudes.
González has a long history of making soothing, blissful acoustic music, and that certainly applies to "Parajito," which is on the record, and to the gentle, minimal title track, which arrives today. Here's how González explains the song:
"Against The Dying Of The Light’ is a song reflecting on humanity in 2025. It’s about accepting who we are and what led us here, since the past can’t be changed. Then, about refocusing our attention on the challenges ahead, like pervert incentives and algorithms that aren't in line with human flourishing. Even though natural selection led us here, we don’t have to do what is in the gene’s best interest. And even though cultural evolution led to our societies, we don’t have to keep all the narratives if they drag us down. And even though we have enormous opportunities with new technology that can eventually design and copy itself, we don’t have to build it right away if it has the potential to make us obsolete. We can rebel against these replicators, rebel against the dying of the light.
Fortunately, I'm not seeing any obvious AI at work in director Fredrik Egerstrand's tracking-shot video for "Against The Dying Of The Light." Below, you'll find that clip, the album's tracklist, and González's upcoming North American tour dates.
TRACKLIST:
01 "A Perfect Storm"
02 "Etyd"
03 "Against The Dying Of The Light"
04 "For Every Dusk"
05 "Sheet"
06 "Pajarito"
07 "Losing Game (Sick)"
08 "Ay Querida"
09 "Rawls Slöja"
10 "Gymnasten"
11 "Just A Rock"
12 "You & We"
13 "Joy (Can’t Help But Sing)"
TOUR DATES:
4/21 - Boston, MA @ Royale
4/22 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
4/23 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 CLub
4/25 - New York, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
4/27 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
4/28 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
5/01 - Seattle, WA @ SODO
5/02 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
5/03 - San Francisco, CA @ Castro Theater
5/04 - San Francisco, CA @ Bimbos
5/05 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
5/08 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk Outside
5/09 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
5/11 - Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
Against The Dying Of The Light is out 3/27 on Mute/City Slang. Pre-order it here.
