Eric D. Johnson is Fruit Bats, and Andy Cabic is Vetiver. Both play with bands, but sometimes they play solo—and join forces. "I’m finding my identity again," Eric says, "which is somehow, weirdly this dumb fake punk rock name that I put on a four-track tape." Fruit Bats’ sixth album, "Absolute Loser," represents a triumphant return to name, form, and self. Despite implications, its title refers to the furthest depths of loss itself, rather than the state of those who have lost something. It’s the most honest, most confessional album of Fruit Bats’ career. "Vetiver is what I’ve been calling my songs and recordings since about 2003 or so," says Andy. "I live in San Francisco, have since 1998." Vetiver too comes to The Ark with new music. "The songs on 'Complete Strangers' bear some resemblance to the album’s title," They share things in common but come from different places, different times. …I’m still figuring the album out. It feels like someone I’ve just met yet known for a long time."