Their first new album in more than three years, Hysterical marks a major milestone in the continuing evolution of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Born out of an intensely collaborative process in which songs were constructed, dismantled, and then rebuilt anew, the album finds the band at their most confident and creative, expertly expanding upon its already distinctive sound.

Having toured almost constantly following their first two albums, a decision was made to take a short hiatus in 2009 before embarking on album number three. The brief interval served its purpose, instilling in the members of CYHSY a renewed sense of conviction and belief in the band. “I think with this record I’m starting to finally understand what the identity of this band is,” says frontman Alec Ounsworth. “We’re all on the same page now.”

In April 2010 CYHSY reconvened at Ounsworth’s home studio in Philadelphia as well as the band’s Brooklyn practice space. The revivified CYHSY spent the better part of a year fine-tuning the material, allowing the songs to veer in multiple directions before settling on what all agreed worked best. When it came time to record, the band chose to collaborate with producer/mixer John Congleton, known for his work with Explosions In The Sky, Okkervil River, Clinic and The Mountain Goats.

With its elegant hooks and simmering atmospherics, Hysterical widens the band’s idiosyncratic formula, incorporating a remarkably expansive tidal wave of sound, all multi-layered keyboard tracks and big, booming drums. Imbued with sweeping synthesizers, juddering bass, and all manner of percussive dynamics, songs like “Same Mistake,” “Yesterday, Never” and the elongated piano-pumping epic, “Adam’s Plane”, are marked by inventive and boldly articulated arrangements that form a veritable vortex of melody and rhythm.

Having come close to the brink, the extended gestation period that led to the new album sees CYHSY returning to action with rejuvenated strength and a spirit of true intent. With Hysterical, CYHSY have crafted something that feels invigorating and new, no less so than to the band themselves. “Even after three records,” Ounsworth says, “it almost feels like the beginning.”