Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce ‘Hidden In Pieces Live’ album release
The seismic energy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs has found a spectacular new home in their latest live offering, Hidden In Pieces Live At The Royal Albert Hall. This new album isn’t just a collection of performances; it’s a deeply intimate look at a band navigating the currents of change, capturing a moment of powerful, shared alchemy in one of music’s most iconic venues.
The recording draws from the band’s intense two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in June of last year, amplified by recordings gathered during their intimate 25th-anniversary theatre tour across San Diego, Chicago, and New York. This compilation serves as a moving testament to their journey, blending treasured catalogue songs with fresh, reimagined arrangements.
For Karen O, the decision to embark on this journey was rooted in a need for connection. She explained that the tour was born out of a desire to commune with her band and fan family in 2025, particularly after the election. She noted that in times of uncertainty, live music offers the specific quality of depth and light needed to see through the moments.
The performance at the Royal Albert Hall was an experience that transcended mere concert-going. It marked a significant milestone, positioning the event as the third play of their theatre tour. The atmosphere was electric, providing an overwhelming backdrop for the band to discover a new level of vulnerability on stage.
The magic of the night was palpable. Karen O reflected on the experience, noting that the pipe organ moment in “Skeletons” was immaculate, swirling with the spirits of musical legends. The experience clicked into place, allowing the band to connect with the space and each other in a way that felt profoundly honest and exposed.
Musically, the album showcases strings, piano, and double bass weaving through reimagined versions of the band’s celebrated catalogue, including powerful tracks like ‘Maps‘, ‘Gold Lion‘, ‘Zero‘, and ‘Spitting Off The Edge Of The World‘. The setlist is a rich tapestry, featuring their cover of Björk’s ‘Hyperballad and an opening ode to the legacy of David Lynch with the song ‘In Heaven.
The tracklist is a journey through their history and new creative expressions, featuring live recordings from the tour, such as ‘Y Control‘ and ‘Let Me Know’, alongside live performances from the Beacon Theatre and the Chicago Theatre. The final arrangement also includes intimate live sessions captured in San Diego, including ‘Y Control’ and ‘Little Shadows’.
Beyond the music, the experience has been visually captured in the 22-minute black-and-white film, Hidden In Pieces. Directed by Barnaby Clay, this visual companion, which was recorded at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles during the tour, brings the reworked material into an intimate setting, available now on the Criterion Channel.
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