Julian Koster (The Music Tapes, Neutral Milk Hotel) preps second season of The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air)

‘Tis the season of… perpetual and voluminous podcasts that you can’t possibly finish by the end of the year? It’s hard to believe that this relatively new form of education and storytelling was barely even a thing a decade ago, but hey: given that we’re about the close out the decade, it might be reasonable to pick and choose which aural narratives you want to precede your making out with a stranger on New Years Eve.

Something tells me a story set in romantic PARIS might be the ideal choice…and wouldn’t you know it? Julian Koster (he of Neutral Milk Hotel, The Elephant 6 Collective, and The Music Tapes fame) has just the fantastic tale coming ‘round the bend for your listening pleasure. The second season of his critically-acclaimed podcast, The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) is set to premiere November 6, with help from WNYC and Night Vale Presents.

For the uninitiated: The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) follows Julian, the sensitive janitor of the Eiffel Tower, as he pines over a radio show (from which the podcast gets its name) broadcasted from the top of the structure. The second season, entitled “The Orbiting Human Circus in Naughty Till New Year,” reportedly deals with existential questions concerning Julian’s lonely life out of — yet oh so close to — the spotlight. Here’s a blurb with more detail:

Does the janitor at the Eiffel Tower really exist? He hopes so. He sleeps in a janitor’s closet near the top of the tower, living and working by night. He imagines a vast audience with him at all times following his every move—a game from childhood he has revived in his loneliness. Only two people have ever seen him: the tower’s 90-year-old night watchman and the janitor’s harried boss, who is strangely in awe of the shy young man and seems unable to fire him even though nothing at the Eiffel Tower actually ever gets cleaned. Add to this the fact that the janitor might not have ever left the tower, has no idea how he came to be there, and can only recall a single childhood memory and one can see why he hides beneath the covers all day. But when a series of surprising, life-altering events shakes his fragile world, will the janitor be forced to pull himself out of his ghostly tower exile and confront who and what he really is? And why does he seem to be running out of time?

Again, episodes of “Till New Year” will air biweekly beginning November 6. Merge Records is also going to release music from the show as it happens. Get acquainted with first season’s vibe — and the have a listen to the season two trailer — down below:

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