The Avalanches’ return was delayed by autoimmune disease

A new Pitchfork interview with Robbie Chater of The Avalanches has revealed the numerous setbacks that led to the 16 year wait for the group’s new album, ‘Wildflower’.

Top of the list? Chater was left unable to produce any new music for three years after being diagnosed with “a couple of separate autoimmune diseases.” Which sounds awful, in fairness.

Elsewhere, clearing the unfathomable amount of samples on the record took ages too, which is probably to be expected. “We had to make a lot of music to break through that perfection thing and really start to embrace all our imperfections,” Chater also explains. “As far as samples, they started clearing stuff years ago, but then there would be some hold-up and they’d have to go back and renegotiate. People would give permission for us to use the sample, and then a certain amount of time would elapse and they would Google who the band is and be like, ‘Oh shit, I can ask for more money.’ That sort of thing took forever.”

It’s here now though - ‘Wildflower’ was released early on Apple Music last Friday, ahead of its official release this Friday 8th July.