Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces return this autumn with a reissue of their classic 2004 album, Blueberry Boat. Long recognized as one of the early-2000s’ most challenging and imaginative statements, the record is an explosion of ideas that pushed the boundaries of song form and narrative in indie rock.
At Le Guess Who? 2025, the siblings will guide us through the record’s many whimsical vignettes, as they will perform tracks from their iconic album. The reissue - available on vinyl via new label Everything Nice - also restores an unheard piece of the Blueberry Boat era: Far Away.
The inclusion of Far Away offers a unique look into the band's creative process: originally meant as the lead single, the track captures The Fiery Furnaces' raw, collaborative energy and experimental spirit during the album's creation. Though it didn't fit the original release, Far Away highlights the duo's evolving sound and adds depth to the album's legacy, offering an insight into a special moment of artistic discovery that influenced later works like the album Bitter Tea (2006), where a reworked version of the song was included with the title Waiting to Know You.
The Fiery Furnaces perform at Le Guess Who? 2025 on Saturday 8 November. Also performing are a.o. PRAM, Unwound, The Space Lady, and many more.
Photography by Chelsy Mitchell
