Seit ihrem Debüt von 2008 haben TITUS ANDRONICUS ihre Hörer fest darauf eingenordet, nur das Unerwartete zu erwarten. ,A Productive Cough" verabschiedet sich von den Punkhymnen und begrüßt einen subtileren, weiträumigen Zugang, in dem Singer/Songwriter Patrick Stickles eine Intimität zwischen Künstler und Publikum erschafft, mit der TITUS ANDRONICUS bisher nur vorsichtig geflirtet hatten. ,Unsere Platten hatten schon immer viele Balladen", erklärt Stickles, ,doch meistens haben die sich unter jeder Menge Geschrei versteckt. Jetzt sind sie die tragenden Säulen. Punkrock ist super, aber wenn es in meiner künstlerischen Werkzeugkiste nur ein Werkzeug gibt, mit dem ich meinen künstlerischen Zweck erreichen kann, dann sollte das immer Kommunikation und Relevanz sein. Dieses Mal kann ich vielleicht effektiver mit den Menschen sprechen, wenn ich sie nicht die ganze Zeit anschreien muss." ,A Productive Cough" wurde vom langjährigen TITUS ANDRONICUS Produzenten und Kollaborateur Kevin McMahon aufgenommen. Mit dabei waren 21 Musiker, die jeden erdenklichen musikalischen Stil umsetzen konnten, so zum Beispiel musikalische Veteranen wie der Pianist Rick Steph (CAT POWER, LUCERO, HANK WILLIAMS JR.) oder die Cellistin Jane Scarpatoni (R.E.M., BOB MOULD, LOU REED). Aufhorchen lässt der Gesang der Brooklyner Sängering Megg Farrell bei ,Crass Tattoo", in dem Stickles vom Mikrophon wegtritt und TITUS ANDRONICUS einen ihrer schönsten Songs abliefern. [ENG] Since debuting in 2008, Titus Andronicus [hereafter +@] has been conditioning faithful listeners to expect only the unexpected. With A Productive Cough, +@ has executed the most shocking departure yet-but only if, as ever mercurial singer-songwriter Patrick Stickles insists, "you haven't been paying attention." In a move that may infuriate the black-denim-and-PBR set, A Productive Cough sets aside leadfooted punk anthems in favor of a subtler, more spacious approach that pushes Stickles' soul-baring songwriting to the fore, creating an intimacy between artist and audience with which previous +@ efforts had only flirted. "[+@] records have always had their fair share of ballads," Stickles explains, "but they were always buried amidst a lot of screaming. Now, they are the cornerstones. Punk rock is nice, but it is but one tool in the toolbox from which I pull to achieve my artistic purpose, and that purpose has always been communication and validation. This time, perhaps I can more effectively talk to the people if I am not so busy yelling at them." The mission of A Productive Cough is apparent from the first bars of opening track "Number One (In New York)." As a tableau of piano and dulcet horns unfolds, Stickles unleashes a breathless and unceasing 64-bar verse with subject matter as sprawling as the kitchen-sink arrangement, which grows to include sparkling guitars, twinkling bells, and uplifting choral vocals as Stickles searches desperately for the strength to carry on through an increasingly violent and frightening world. A Productive Cough was recorded by longtime +@ producer Kevin McMahon at Marcata Recording in New Paltz, NY, with a cast of 21 elite musicians whose diverse skill sets allow +@ to incorporate far-reaching musical styles. Even amongst veteran pianist Rick Steph (Cat Power, Lucero, Hank Williams Jr.) and esteemed cellist Jane Scarpantoni (R.E.M., Bob Mould, Lou Reed), listeners may be most struck by lead vocals from Brooklyn singer Megg Farrell for the aging-punk's lament "Crass Tattoo," as the perennially raspy Stickles humbly steps away from the microphone to enable what may be +@'s most unapologetically gorgeous track yet. "The last record [The Most Lamentable Tragedy] was very much a culmination of all that had come before-closing, or really slamming, a lot of doors," Stickles explains, "and to move forward, I had to look for a new door to walk through, only to find a window which had been cracked open all along. [A Productive Cough] is the gentle breeze which had been wafting through, which I can breathe in fully at last."