On April 12, Bruce Hornsby will release a new studio album titled Absolute Zero. The Grammy-winning pianist and singer-songwriter previewed the LP with a new single, “Cast-Off,” featuring Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon.
In the last half-decade, Vernon has been particularly vocal about his love of the former Grateful Dead keyboardist, singing his praises to Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. During an interview on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Vernon explained to the host, “There’s not enough Hornsby in my scene.”
The two musicians have been collaborating with one another frequently over the past few years. In 2015, the duo teamed up to record a take on “Black Muddy River” for The National‘s extensive Grateful Dead tribute album, Day of the Dead. Vernon then appeared on Hornsby’s 2016 album Rehab Reunion, collaborating on opening track “Over The Rise.” Later, the famed pianist headed to Vernon’s festival with The National’s Aaron Dessner, Eaux Claires, in 2016 to sit-in during Bon Iver’s headlining set and an all-star Grateful Dead tribute. Hornsby also came out during Bon Iver’s 2017 Coachella set.
Hornsby shared the following regarding the new single:
[“Cast-Off” is] a song about acceptance and even gratitude in the face of rejection, egolessness, patience and humility. This song was put together in Eau Claire, Wisconsin last April, starting with an unused film cue, developed and expanded upon in the studio with spontaneous contributions from Sean Carey (who just walked in and started singing), Jeremy Ylvisaker (playing guitar that doesn’t sound like guitar!), Mike Lewis and JT Bates on sax and drums, Brad Cook (and later Noisemaker JV Collier) on bass, and Justin and I taking turns in the vocal booth trading ideas and melodies. Pretty much, mostly concocted right there at [Vernon’s recording facility] April Base!
Stream “Cast-Off” below:
