Among all of the surprises that 2016 has brought electronic music fans so far, this announcement might only resonate with a very specific subset of the scene. Blog house mainstays MSTRKRFT have revealed that after a five-year hiatus they will release a studio studio album titled Operator.
The Canadian duo told Billboard that the much of the album was inspired by military themes. The title itself is a reference to “operator culture” – a concept which kept they purport kept coming up in conversations that they observed between military personnel.
The first track that they’ve released from the album is “Party Line,” whose abrasive sound design elements offer a challenging response to the saccharine electronic music which came to prominence in MSTRKRFT’s absence. It’s certainly far removed from the group’s 2009 crossover hit “Heartbreaker,” but perhaps their fanbase will grow amid post-EDM disillusionment.
MSTRKRFT have yet to announce an official release date for Operator, but fans can look forward to a June tour in the meantime. The full list of dates can be seen below:
Wednesday, June 1: Washington, DC, U Street Music Hall
Thursday, June 2: Cambridge, MA, Middle East
Saturday, June 4: Chicago, IL, Double Door
Wednesday, June 8: Denver, CO, Club Vinyl
Friday, June 10: San Francisco, CA, The Independent
Saturday, June 11: Los Angeles, CA, Exchange
Monday, June 13: Ottawa, ON, Ritual Nightclub
Tuesday, June 14: Toronto, ON, The Horseshoe Tavern
