I think Aaron Dessner and Michael Stipe work well together and have created one of the best tunes for Stipe to sing since the original REM broke up with “No Time For Love Like Now.”

After debuting live on YouTube and The Late Show with Stephen Colbertin April, Michael Stipe & Big Red Machine are excited to share their powerful song “No Time For Love Like Now,” which is available now on all DSP’s. Written by Michael Stipe and Aaron Dessner, produced by Aaron Dessner, with Orchestration by Bryce Dessner, and lyrics by Michael Stipe, “No Time For Love Like Now” is out now via 37d03d.“No Time For Love Like Now” is accompanied by a video directed by longtime Eaux Claires, The National and Bon Iver collaborator Michael Brown.

“No Time For Love Like Now” is the first song from Big Red Machine since the release of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut in 2018. Big Red Machine began as a collaboration between Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon in 2008, and has grown into a multi-artist collective. When the group got together this year to begin working on new music, this particular song made a detour and ended up with Michael Stipe. 
 
“I’m super excited to work with Aaron Dessner,” Stipe said of the collaboration. “And I’m thrilled with how the song and lyrics landed. The title says it all.”

Aaron Dessner spoke with Stereogum sharing his story of the collaboration HERE.

In addition to Michael and Aaron…Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) on guitar, Brad Cook (Hiss Golden Messenger, War on Drugs) on synth, JT Bates (Lizzo, Poliça) on drums, Thomas Bartlett, aka Doveman, (Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens) on keys, Clarice Jensen (Bjork, Nick Cave) and Yuki Numata Resnick (Beirut, Blonde Redhead) on violin / viola all perform on the master.    Michael Stipe has designed a “No Time For Love Like Now” t-shirt and tote, available for purchase now HERE. All proceeds from the sales will go to The Equal Justice Initiative and Covid-19 Protest Relief Fund.
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