Dirty Projectors, About to Die — Sealed 12″ EP (Domino/Downtown, 2012)

About to Die is a 2012 EP from Dirty Projectors, released as a companion piece to the creative period surrounding Swing Lo Magellan. Although shorter than a full‑length album, it captures a distinct moment in the band’s development, presenting four tracks that explore the group’s characteristic blend of experimental pop, intricate vocal arrangements, and structurally adventurous songwriting. This sealed EU pressing preserves the EP exactly as issued, with the shrinkwrap intact and only a single bumped corner to note. The sleeve retains its shape, and the artwork remains sharp and unfaded.

The EP opens with the title track, About to Die, one of the more immediately accessible pieces from the Magellan era. Built around a steady rhythmic foundation, it layers vocal harmonies, guitar figures, and shifting textures in a way that reflects the band’s interest in balancing complexity with clarity. The song’s melodic structure moves between direct, memorable phrases and more angular passages, creating a dynamic interplay that is typical of Dirty Projectors’ approach during this period.

While You’re Here follows with a markedly different tone. It is sparse, reflective, and built around a minimal arrangement that foregrounds emotional directness. The track’s simplicity contrasts with the more elaborate constructions found elsewhere in the band’s catalogue, offering a moment of stillness that highlights the expressive potential of restraint. Its placement within the EP provides a counterbalance to the more rhythmically driven material.

Here Til It Says I’m Not returns to the group’s interest in unusual melodic pathways and shifting rhythmic emphasis. The track moves through sections that feel both exploratory and tightly controlled, demonstrating the band’s ability to create music that is simultaneously experimental and cohesive. Vocal interplay remains central, with harmonies and counter‑melodies woven into the instrumental framework.

The closing track, Simple Request, continues this exploration of structure and texture. It combines rhythmic irregularities with melodic fragments that develop gradually, creating a sense of forward motion without relying on conventional pop forms. The track’s arrangement reflects the band’s interest in blending acoustic and electric elements, producing a sound that is distinctive within the broader landscape of early‑2010s indie music.

Physically, this EP is presented in a full‑colour sleeve featuring artwork that aligns with the band’s visual aesthetic from the period. The sealed shrinkwrap protects the sleeve surface, and the only notable flaw is a bump to one corner. The record itself remains unplayed and untouched, as the shrinkwrap has not been opened. Domino and Downtown’s pressings from this era typically use standard‑weight vinyl, housed in simple but well‑produced packaging that emphasises clarity of design.

As a release, About to Die occupies a meaningful place within Dirty Projectors’ catalogue. It offers material that complements Swing Lo Magellan while standing on its own as a concise statement of the band’s interests at the time. The EP format allows for a focused presentation, giving each track space to define its own character without the structural demands of a full album. For listeners and collectors, it represents a snapshot of the band’s creative direction during a period of significant artistic refinement.

This sealed copy preserves that moment exactly as issued, maintaining the integrity of the original packaging and presenting the EP in its untouched state. The artwork, tracklist, and physical presentation all reflect the band’s commitment to producing releases that are both musically and visually distinctive. The combination of experimental songwriting, careful arrangement, and strong visual identity makes About to Die a notable entry in the band’s body of work.

Condition

Sealed. One lightly bumped corner. Shrinkwrap intact with no tears or splits.