Hibou, the Seattle-based project of 21-year-old Peter Michel, has signed to Barsuk Records and the label will be releasing band’s self-titled debut album on September 18.
Today Stereogum debuted the album’s lead track “Dissolve,” saying “Hibou (is) a dreamy new Seattle post-punk project … (‘Dissolve’) starts out as an especially warm and friendly spin on the C86 sound – all steady pulse, luminescent guitar, and mystical whispers – before exploding into a wonderfully florid prog-rock finish that feels like an entire woodland scene bursting into a celebratory dance routine, possibly with aliens present. It’s a surprising turn that marks the song as more than just an excellent genre exercise and Hibou as more than torchbearers in a storied tradition.”

The album is the follow-up to the band’s 2013 EP Dunes.  Written, recorded and played by Peter at home in Seattle, the self-titled debut LP will feature 11 songs (including four new versions of songs from the Dunes EP) and is a lush, driving mix of ’80s inspired pop, fueled by twisting reverbed-out guitar melodies, elegant arrangements, and a love of soda, summertime nostalgia, and trips to Peter’s inspirational point in Seattle: the fittingly-named Discovery Park.
Michel got his start in the noted San Francisco indie band Craft Spells as its drummer while still in high school after ditching the traditional brick and mortar institution for an online education. He ended up spending the better part of a year touring throughout the U.S. and Europe, playing shows at night while finishing his studies during the day. He was 18 when he realized he needed to start focusing more attention on his own songs. Peter returned to Seattle and began to experiment with soundscapes and varying musical genres, all of which eventually led to the release of Dunes, his first recordings as Hibou. The EP was recorded in the walk-in closet of his apartment. Peter wrote the music, played every instrument, mixed, and self-released the EP. He then set upon self-booking a west coast tour with a loose band he assembled. More touring followed as well as press recognition from the likes of NME, Pitchfork and Noisey.
Hibou will be touring across North America throughout July and August this summer, opening for Cayucas.
7/14 – Casbah – San Diego, CA
7/15 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
7/16 – Bunk House – Las Vegas, NV
7/18 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
7/20 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
7/22 – Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
7/23 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
7/24 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
7/25 – Loving Touch – Detroit, MI
7/26 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON
7/28 – The Hollow – Albany, NY
7/29 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
7/31 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
8/01 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA
8/03 – Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
8/05 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
8/06 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
8/07 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX
8/08 – Three Links – Dallas, TX
8/09 – The Parish – Austin, TX
8/14 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA
8/15 – Soho – Santa Barbara, CA
8/16 – Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
8/17 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
8/20 – Electric Owl – Vancouver, BC
8/21 – Barboza – Seattle, WA
 
LISTEN to “Dissolve” here: