Photo courtesy of Terrorbird Media

Catchphrases work for movie stars and your annoying friends that quote movie stars. But for French folk-rock duo Herman Dune, these repeated utterances spawned the title track from their new EP, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know. “I’d used the expression ‘Tell me something I don’t know’ one too many times to not notice it,” Dune recalls. “So I decided to write a song with it. I’d had the, “You call me at home and at the restaurant / When you feel alone and whenever you want” line waiting in my notepad for a few days and it all came together as I was playing on my Wurlitzer electric piano.”

It’s been a few years since Herman Dune since the group released their overlooked, yet excellent collection of “happy” songs, Next Year in Zion. Dune says that “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” is indicative of a more simple, concise iteration of the project, where the electric piano is the main composition tool. “Just as the writing was more simple for the song, it’s kind of the vibe for the new Herman Dune in general,” he says. “A little less words, a little more melodies, simple beats, and a good all bass and guitar structure.”

Tell Me Something I Don’t Know is out January 17 on Strange Moosic Records.