Hospice chronicles The Antlers' evolution from detailed dream pop to densely layered shoegaze, from solo effort to band. Beginning as Peter Silberman's solo bedroom arrangements and recordings, this upcoming release marks the first time Silberman assembled a group of friends to contribute: Darby Cicci (trumpet, bowed banjo), Justin Stivers (bass), Michael Lerner (drums), and Sharon Van Etten (guest vocals). Cicci and Lerner remain as core members of the live band.

Hospice is the follow-up to 2007's nuanced, upbeat In the Attic of the Universe, which became The Antlers' unexpected under-the-radar breakthrough thanks to blog word-of-mouth. Along with several other EPs, a successful CMJ and SXSW '08, and this past fall's midwest and east coast tour, Hospice is evidence of The Antlers'--and Silberman's--maturation.

In September, The Band released a free download of "Two", the first single off of the new album. The track quickly earned adoration from the blogosphere, landing spots on numerous playlists and best-of lists. (It charted high on music blog aggregator Elbo.ws' list of most frequently-Posted tracks, and ranked as Pop Tarts Suck Toasted's #1 single of 2008.) "Bear", Hospice's second single, will be released in January.