David Berman, regarded as one of the most poetic voices in US indie rock, has died aged 52. His record label, Drag City, confirmed the news on Thursday (August 8) but has not confirmed the cause of death.

He was best known for his project Silver Jews and for his wry, witty lyrics. The band formed in 1989 in New Jersey, when Berman was living and working with Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich, who would go on to form Pavement.

Malkmus paid tribute to Berman after the news. Berman was also a poet, and in 2019 he released the first album from his project Purple Mountains, marking his return to music after years away.