Working initially in Vig's basement and then at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Garbage drew on a variety of sources, from their recent fan letters back to the albums they loved growing up. The guiding principle was keeping it fresh, and relying on instinct both lyrically and musically , said frontwoman Shirley Manson. Strange Little Birds is less fussed over than anything Garbage has ever made. We fell in love with immediacy, adds Vig.

Some will hear echoes of Garbage s 1995 debut album in Strange Little Birds including Manson herself. To me, this record, funnily enough, has the most to do with the first record than any of the previous records, she says. It s getting back to that beginner s headspace. In part, she says, that s a result of not having anyone to answer to.