Nonesuch Records is pleased to announce the signing of Rhode Island–based trio The Low Anthem. Later this spring, the label will release an updated version of the band’s album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, which had a limited but critically praised independent release late last year. Rolling Stone says the music on Charlie Darwin feels “homemade” and “solemnly beautiful,” and NPR Music called the song “To Ohio” a “tender stunner” in choosing it as a Song of the Day, saying, “At times languid and haunting, but with detours into Tom Waits-esque stomping and hollering, The Low Anthem’s music seems equally informed by Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, The Band and a late-night ride home in Joni Mitchell’s car.” Exact details of the release will be announced shortly. For tour dates, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

The Low Anthem, which is signed to Bella Union in Europe, recently performed six sets at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, where the BBC called them “stunning” and said, “Expect much flowerier words of praise thrown on this band in the future; they deserve everything said about them.” Mojo describe their set as “heartbreaking” and called the band, “truly startling songwriters and instrumentalists. Theirs is a gloriously romantic vision of America that sits somewhere between Dylan and Waits.”

The Low Anthem comprises Jocie Adams, Ben Knox Miller, and Jeff Prystowsky; Adams plays clarinet, Miller plays guitar and sings (and is the group’s principle songwriter), and Prystowsky plays bass, but they each play a handful of other instruments on Oh My God, Charlie Darwin and in live performances. The three met while studying at Brown University in Providence, RI, and have been playing together for nearly two years. (Before Adams joined the group, an earlier incarnation of The Low Anthem released What the Crow Brings in 2007.)

Oh My God, Charlie Darwin was co-produced by The Low Anthem and Jesse Lauter. The band, Lauter, and several good friends went to Block Island, RI, for ten cold days in January 2008. They brought recording equipment along on the ferry ride and made the album by woodstove in an empty summer cabin. Among the 27 instruments on the record are zither, pump organ, Tibetan singing bowl, and an oil drum. The Low Anthem pays homage to two heroes with the record’s only cover, a one-take rendition of “Home I’ll Never Be,” with words by Jack Kerouac and music by Tom Waits.

“My first view of The Low Anthem was memorable—all those instruments on stage and musicians who were able to play them interchangeably,” recalls Nonesuch Senior Vice President David Bither. “And when I had the chance to live with their songs I was even more won over: they speak a variety of musical languages, all with confidence and beauty. I’m happy that we will have the opportunity—close-up—to watch them further develop their exceptional music.”

Miller adds, “We have great respect for Nonesuch’s taste and ethics. Their roster is brilliant and frankly intimidating. We’re thrilled they’ll be supporting our records. Now we’re going to Disney World!”