The Avalanches have released their long-awaited sophomore album Wildflowers, after a 16-year hiatus since their debut album Since I Left You dropped all the way back in 2000. Their new album has been in the works for over a decade and features Hip Hop artists including Danny Brown, DOOM, Camp Lo and Biz Markie among others. (DOOM has also previously collaborated with The Avalanches on their deluxe re-issue of Since I Left You in 2011). The Avalanches as a group has reduced in number of members without compromising on quality, and currently consists of two of the founding members in Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi, as well as the newly re-joined James Dela Cruz.
Wildflowers debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA album charts (their first #1) and inside the UK Top 10. It debuted at #27 in the Billboard 200 album chart and even better in a handful of other Billboard-lists. The lead single ‘Frankie Sinatra’ (feat. Danny Brown and DOOM) is currently also in the Top 40 in Mexico and Top 100 in Belgium, with the album proving to be even stronger as a hit across the world as well, ranking in on a number of global charts such as Scotland (#9), UK (#10), Ireland (#11), New Zealand (#12), Belgium (#19), Austria (#42), Switzerland (#44), Sweden (#46), Finland (#47), Netherlands (#49) and Canada (#54) despite 16 years between albums for the group.
Their new album Wildflowers in some parts largely divergences from The Avalanches more original Hip Hop sound, and takes a more easy listening path through lavish pieces of arranged instrumentation. Their last album Since I Left You was heavily influenced by pioneering sample based hip hop releases such as the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High & Rising and much more in the vein of a DJ Shadow or Cut Chemist release. Since I Left You contained over 3,500 samples and is considered as one of the most important music releases across all genres from Australia, and led them to supporting such acts as the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and Beck.
The Avalanches have now returned to the major music festival circuit over the weekend in Australia, cementing their return to the forefront of Australian music down under, as well as extending it beyond to the rest of the world. Their upcoming European tour although has been recently postponed for a few months while keyboardist and bassist Tony Di Blasi deals with some health issues.
