EL VY (pronounced like a plural of Elvis; rhymes with ‘hell pie’) is the musical collaboration between Matt Berninger, vocalist and lyricist of The National, and Brent Knopf, the Portland musician and producer best known for his work in Menomena and his more recent band, Ramona Falls. Their debut album Return to the Moon will be released on October 30th via 4AD.

The album is a project Berninger and Knopf have been thinking about for years. Their friendship spans nearly a decade, starting back when the National and Menomena played small half-empty clubs along America’s west coast. Feeling an immediate musical kinship, the pair kept in touch, Brent sending Matt occasional rough sketches of music and Matt responding with melodies and lyrics. Finally, in the winter and spring of 2014-15, they actually got together to make an album.

Knopf explains, “I never worried about sending Matt something unfinished. He’s able to imagine where it can go. He can grab the four bars that will become the core of the track and develop them into something amazing.”

“This record is more autobiographical than anything else I’ve written,” says Berninger, “but the details aren’t true. It’s written in the voices of a few invented characters, composites of different people – myself, my wife, and other people I was thinking about.”

EL VY Return To The Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, with Crescendo)

1. Return to the Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, with Crescendo)
2. I’m the Man to Be
3. Paul Is Alive
4. Need a Friend
5. Silent Ivy Hotel
6. No Time to Crank the Sun
7. It’s a Game
8. Sleepin’ Light (feat. Ural Thomas)
9. Sad Case
10. Happiness, Missouri
11. Careless

November
02 – PORTLAND, OR, Doug Fir Lounge
03 – PORTLAND, OR, Doug Fir Lounge
04 – SEATTLE, WA, Neumos
06 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, The Independent
07 – LOS ANGELES, CA, Troubadour
10 – PHILADELPHIA, PA, Union Transfer
11 – WASHINGTON, DC, 9:30 Club
13 – NEW YORK, NY, Bowery Ballroom
14 – BROOKLYN, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
15 – BOSTON, MA, The Sinclair
16 – MONTREAL, QC, Theatre Fairmount
17 – TORONTO, ON, Opera House
19 – CHICAGO, IL, Metro
20 – MILWAUKEE, WI, Turner Hall Ballroom
21 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN, First Avenue

December
01 – COPENHAGEN, Pumpehuse
02 – HAMBURG, Knust
03 – AMSTERDAM, Melkweg
04 – COLOGNE, Kantine
06 – BERLIN, Astra
07 – BRUSSELS, AB
08 – PARIS, Trabendo
10 – LONDON, Electric Ballroom
12 – MANCHESTER, Gorilla
13 – DUBLIN, Whelans