The New Release

We began this recording in July.
Well, in our heads, this recording began in January.
But depending on how you see things, that does or doesn't count.

We released our last full-length album in 2006.
And a handful of its songs had released a year earlier.

In other words,
it's been a long time since we've been in the studio.
Like really in the studio.
Which in itself is neither here nor there (though we do like the studio experience quite a lot).
But more importantly,
it's been a long time since we've put any songs, in studio fashion,
onto pieces of plastic
(or digital files)
that can then go out and live their own lives in the wide world.

Thus, in January, we set out to record a demo EP.
Which, to clarify,
meant to us, "a short CD that illustrates some new songs and stylistic choices, that will help potential producers & other folk to determine whether they'd like to work on this next record with us."

But, in January, in the midst of decisions about where and when to record said demo, more songs were coming.
(They do always come in on our stories.)
(Which, who knew, seem to keep unfolding as we keep waking up to new days.)

So we decided to give it time.

In June, we had 8 songs we were ready to record...
and in July we chose five and found ourselves in a lovely studio making them come together.

Into a record that was supposed to be just a "guide."
And we created it in 3 long days and 3 long nights,
being spat out afterwards from the belly of the whale,
with a demo, sure, and one we felt good about.

In September the songs were online, streaming on MySpace and such...
And we also toured up the east coast that month with our dear friend Kyler England, playing at least a few of the songs at each one of our shows.
In the process, we saw that they (the songs) already had lives of their own.
And that we were reining this demo in, in anticipation of our next full record.
Which was maybe fine;
but what if it didn't have to work exactly that way?

The more requests we received for the songs,
the more trusted friends we asked about our predicament,
and the more support we received from fans both while on tour and with the whole Paste Magazine contest (and all your many kind votes)...,
the more right it felt to alter our plans.

The songs are written, they're in our live sets, they're streaming online... They should be made truly available.

So here we are.
And here it is.

Five songs, all of them previously unrecorded, with the exception of Lay Your Head Down, which appeared on our 2007 Holiday EP.

But do note --
None of this implies for a moment that our next full-length is now on hold, :) or that it will be pushed back.
We're as invested as ever in the process of developing our next album, and we'll certainly have updates for you as we go.

Meanwhile, welcome to a new chapter in the Ellery story.
Give a few new songs a new home...

(You can find the EP at all of our upcoming shows, or order your copy online by Clicking Here! Coming very soon to iTunes, et al.)

Our very best to you --