The Staves and yMusic have just announced The Way Is Read, a new twelve-track album released by Nonesuch Records. The English folk rock trio The Staves—Emily, Jessica, and Camilla Staveley-Taylor (all vocals)–after being commissioned in 2016 by Justin Vernon’s Eaux Claires Festival to collaborate on a live performance piece, dove into New York City based ensemble yMusic’s inventory of contemporary classical music to find pieces fitting to their vocal and lyrical style. yMusic is a sextet ensemble comprised of a trumpet, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello formed in 2008. Their 2016-17 season was the most prominent yet, featuring yMusic’s Carnegie Hall debut, an innovating new collaborative album with composer Son Lux and producer Thomas (Doveman) Bartlett.

The title track “The Way Is Read” is an elegantly composed piece staring The Stave’s lilting voices, that give contrast to the plethora of instrumentals chirping along to a discordant rhythm. Listen to the collaboration below.

The Way Is Read was produced by Rob Moose and Jessica Staveley-Taylor and mixed and engineered by Brian Joseph. The album will be available digitally on November 24, 2017, and on limited-edition vinyl on December 1.

The Way Is Read tracklist:
Hopeless
Take Me Home
Trouble on My Mind
Bladed Stance
All My Life
Silent Side
Year of the Dog
Courting Is A Pleasure
All The Times You Prayed
Appetite
Sprig of Thyme
The Way Is Read