Brokeback Announces Album Colder, Milder
The Chicago post-rock band's first album in a decade arrives in early February on Thrill Jockey, with its title track now streaming.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Folk
Brokeback has announced its new album Colder, Milder, the band's first full-length since Illinois River Valley Blues was released a decade ago. The title track is now streaming on the Thrill Jockey Substack.
Why it matters
The announcement marks a return from a long gap in recorded output for a band whose lineup matches its 2017 configuration. The album is the first full-length project from the group in roughly ten years.
The album contains eight tracks and follows Illinois River Valley Blues, released a decade ago. The band previewed the title track live last year, but the source does not detail any commercial performance metrics for the new release.
The players
Brokeback
A Chicago post-rock band known for its long-running association with the local experimental scene and its sparse, instrumental recordings.
Thrill Jockey
An independent Chicago record label founded in 1992 that has released work by many influential post-rock and experimental artists.
John McEntire
A Chicago musician and producer long associated with the post-rock scene and known for his work with Tortoise and as a recording engineer.
The details
Colder, Milder was recorded with John McEntire, and strings were arranged by James Elkington and performed by Lia Kohl and Macie Stewart. Amalea Tchilds provides occasional vocals, and Rick Froberg created the cover art.
Timeline
Last year: the band previewed the title track live.
Early February 2027: Colder, Milder is scheduled for release on Thrill Jockey.
Season Trajectory
Brokeback's return with Colder, Milder follows the Illinois River Valley Blues release and keeps the band's 2017 lineup intact. The album extends a catalog that has remained largely dormant since that record appeared a decade ago.
Listeners can stream the title track now on the Thrill Jockey Substack, and the full eight-track album is scheduled for release in early February. The release will be available through the label's standard distribution channels.
The takeaway
The title track is available to stream now, giving listeners a preview of the band's first album in a decade before the full release in early February.
What happens next
Colder, Milder is scheduled for release in early February on Thrill Jockey.
Further reading
Explore more Chicago Folk coverage for context on the local scene this band comes from.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Stereogum.
