Santa Already?
Behold! Welcome to the latest, long overdue Residents newsletter, direct from the shared desk of The Cryptic Corporation and New Ralph Too. The Residents are well, having resumed work on their new sure-to-be-a-masterpiece album following the recovery of one of their number, and as we speak are preparing to announce rescheduled ESKIMO tour dates - interested parties should keep an eye on all of the band's social media platforms, and of course residents.com for the new dates, details on tickets and so on, all of which will be shared with the wider world the moment everything is set in stone.
Rejoice! Meanwhile, The Residents are also preparing to formally announce the release of a brand new EP of 'Eskimo Folk Tales' to accompany the tour, featuring five brand new songs inspired by a collection of stories handed to them by their mentor The Mysterious N. Senada almost a decade ago. We're told a late September release date is planned - as ever, keep 'em peeled for details as they land via the Cherry Red and MVD websites, as well as your local independent record stockist if you're lucky enough to still have one. We're contractually obliged, of course, to tell you it's a fantastic record, but it really is. Not quite a new side of 'Eskimo' (although their second three-sided album would be kinda cool), but certainly a companion piece to the 1979 original, and must-hear stuff for anybody planning to go to one of the shows and desperate to fit in by knowing all of the words.
And as ever, the group are also deep into several other projects, both new and resurrected after the enforced layoff during the first half of this year. Stage shows, books, musicals (!?) and assorted collaborations are all being discussed, worked on, reworked, discussed again and so on - any long term Residents fan will know that's nothing new, but given the health concerns of the past six months we're sure you'll agree it's particularly good news right now.
And, as ever, rest assured you'll be the first to know as everything comes together and 2027 begins to plan itself. Oh, and they haven't forgotten the long promised Bandcamp site either.
But what with the recent 'Animal Lover pREServed' offering, the 'Randy, Chuck & Bob In The Studio' Record Store Day LP and this new 'Eskimo Folk Tales' thing, the group have been overly-conscious of desensitisation, fatigue and Rez-blindness among their millions of fans. But it'll happen soon, they assure us.
And that's just about that. All that remains is a gift for you, the patient reader. Some of you may be familiar with the work of Mr Ego Plum, and will be excited to know that he has been working with The Residents a lot recently, including co-producing the new 'Eskimo' EP. Well, back in 2023 he appeared at the band's 'Secret Show' in San Francisco, performing 'Santa Dog', and has kindly given us permission to hand out his demo recording of that performance - if all goes to
plan, you can find it right here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dyjb8n78yznazw26smyec/Santa-Dog-The-Residents-Secret-Show.mp3We think it's rather wonderful, and hope you'll enjoy it. And, of course, if you haven't already heard the live version and the rest of the 'Secret Show' album (and seen the film) you really ought to add it to your to do list.
Your pals,
New Ralph Too
