John Andrew Fredrick, a prolific songwriter and author - he has published three comic-literary novels and is about to release a book on the early films of Wes Anderson - announced that his long-time, critically revered band, the black watch would tick no more following the release of the band's "Sugarplum Fairy, Sugarplum Fairy" album in early 2015.

As it turns out, this retirement has lasted less than a year.

Set for release on December 4th, "Highs & Lows" is the band's 13th release in 27 years and is one of its best. An early review from the venerable magazine The Big Takeover calls the album "high art," and notes that Fredrick "plies the refined, crafted spaces of post-Velvets pop like Go-Betweens/Orange Juice/Smiths/c86."

Produced by Rob Campanella of Brian Jonestown Massacre, the latest single from "Highs & Lows" is Fredrick's favorite from the album, "Quondam Redhead," which he describes as being about "A beautiful ginger who stabbed me to death in an imaginary kitchen." He continues, explaining, "She laughs because she's used her 'favorite knife' and now it's unusable. A song for everyone who has a favorite knife? Or everyone who's still in more than a little in love with someone who quote-unquote killed them?"

"Highs & Lows, the latest album from the black watch, arrives on December 4th, 2015 via Pop Culture Press Records.