Category Archives: new albums

July 28, 2017 · 3:12 pm

New Music From OMD!

Synth-pop pioneers OMD return with their dazzling 13th studio album The Punishment of Luxury which sees them combine the wistful nostalgia and idealized romance of their previous work while stepping out of their comfort zone. The LP is out September 1st on White Noise Records.

The follow up to the critically acclaimed English Electric (released in 2013) The Punishment Of Luxury is a daring collection of stylish synth pop and masterful songwriting which will certainly rank alongside their very best.

Written, recorded, produced and mixed by OMD – Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys – the album is the sound of a band in their prime. “On this album, we have managed to make beautiful things out of noises and repetitive patterns,” explains Andy. “The trouble is, we just can’t help but write a catchy melody!”

The track and album are named after an 1891 painting by the Italian divisionist Giovanni Segantini that caught Andy’s eye. Andy explains, “Most people in the western world are materially better off than their predecessors ever were and yet we are unhappier. Now we have many possessions that we don’t need because we’ve been persuaded to buy. This is the punishment of luxury.”

Described by The Quietus as “not just one of the best synth bands ever – they are one of the best bands ever,” OMD’s influence has become ubiquitous. The xx, the Killers, and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy have cited OMD as an inspiration, and the likes of Future Islands and Chvrches show traces of OMD’s DNA.

Check out three of the tracks from the new album now!

Punishment Of Luxury – Tracklisting
1. The Punishment of Luxury
2. Isotype
3. Robot Man
4. What Have We Done
5. Precision & Decay
6. As We Open, So We Close
7. Art Eats Art
8. Kiss Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Bang
9. One More Time
10. La Mitrailleuse
11. Ghost Star
12.The View From Here

U.S., U.K & EU TOUR DATES:

July 2017
Fri 28th SAN FRANCISCO, Regency Ballroom
Sat 29th LOS ANGELES, Microsoft Theater
Sun 30th TIJUANA, El Foro

August 2017
Wed 2nd MEXICO CITY, Pepsi Centre
Sat 5th DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Hard Rock Cafe

October 2017
Mon 23rd DUBLIN, Vicar street
Tue 24th BELFAST, Mandella Hall
Sun 29th LIVERPOOL, Empire   
Mon 30th BRISTOL, Colston Hall

  November 2017
Wed 1st SOUTHEND, Cliffs Pavilion   
Thur 2nd IPSWICH, Regent
Fri 3rd CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
Sun 5th LEICESTER, De Montfort Hall
Mon 6th NOTTINGHAM, Royal Concert Hall
Tue 7th SHEFFIELD, City Hall   
Thur 9th READING, Hexagon
Fri 10th SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall
Sat 11th GUILDFORD, G Live
Mon 13th LONDON, Roundhouse
Wed 15th BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Fri 17th MANCHESTER, Academy
Sat 18th YORK, Barbican
Sun 19th GLASGOW, Royal Concert Hall   
Tue 21st BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall
Wed 22nd GATESHEAD, Sage 1
Sat 25th ERFURT, Traum Hits Festival
Sun 26th HAMBURG, Grosse Freoheit
Tue 28th BERLIN, Huxleys
Wed 29th LEIPZIG, Taus Auenesse
Thur 30th MUNICH, Tonhalle

December 2017
Sat 2nd OFFENBACH, Stadhalle
Sun 3rd DUSSELDORF, Mitsubishi Electric Hall
Tue 5th TILBURG, 013
Wed 6th ANTWERP, De Roma
Fri 8th LAUSANNE, Les Docks

 

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July 27, 2017 · 7:18 pm

Newest Love: Private Island

Photo credit: Anthony Pham

“For a sound so contagious, I’d bet they’re impressive to see live.”
– What Youth

“So grab your sunglasses and sunscreen and hit the pool with this one on your loudspeakers.” — Earmilk

“L.A.-based Private Island has one foot in the retro-ism of smooth jazz and funk and the other in the gang’s-all-here musical collectivism of modern indie-pop.”
– Buzzbands.LA

After dominating the West Coast music scene and selling out headlining shows in LA, Private Island is heading on their first US Tour with Future Generations, prepared to bring their mix of funky California indie pop-rock to a venue near you. After making a splash on the internet with their Hype Machine approved hit “Drugs,” and over 3 million streams on Spotify, Private Island is excited to promote their third studio project, Night Drive, which will mark a slight departure from their indie-rock past to a smoother R&B vibe.

The lead single, “Turbulence,” is Private Island’s first step into a world that breaks away from the shimmering indie-rock of their past releases. While maintaining their roots, the new music opens the door into a darker, more polished sound, where lead singer Christian Lum effortlessly denounces his loss of faith in love. The sonic development of the new single mixed with their signature bluesy-rock sound leaves listeners with a taste of the new album, due out fall 2017. The Southern California six-piece band, comprised of Christian Lum, Tommy Nickerson, Cameron Anderson, Michelle Guerrero, Tim Barbour and Roger Mawer, worked with producer Jacob Munk and mastering engineer Joe Lambert for Night Drive.

TOUR DATES

July 28th @ The High Watt in Nashville, TN

July 29th @ The EARL in Atlanta, GA

Aug 1st @ The Evening Muse in Charlotte, NC

Aug 2nd @ DC9 in Washington, DC

Aug 4th @ Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, PA

Aug 5th @ Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY

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July 27, 2017 · 4:39 pm

Video: Anna of the North – “Someone”

Anna of the North shares her self-directed visual video for “Someone”, shot on location in Miami, Florida.

Of creating the video, Anna says:
It’s a video made in Miami but it’s certainly not a stereotypical Miami video. The ‘party’ side to cities like Miami can feel vacuous, making them the loneliest places in the world, so it’s a fitting backdrop to the story. It’s set the day after a big night, when you instantly regret something that happened. It’s about the internal battle of the day after; trying to accept that you’re human and how hard it is to forgive yourself for your own mistakes. It gets more desperate throughout as the realization sets in.

The second single to be taken from their highly-anticipated debut album Lovers, “Someone” journeys through a swaggering opening and a head rush of synths, which then make way for Anna’s tender vocals before the chorus explodes into a blockbuster-scale road trip.

Due for worldwide release on September 8, Lovers is an album deeply rooted in heartbreak, a subject that courses through the veins of all ten tracks – through the turmoil, the guilt and the tentative joy of finally letting yourself move on.

In three years since the release of debut single “Sway”, the Norwegian-Kiwi duo of Anna Lotterud and Brady Daniell-Smith have paved the way for their full-length debut following a run of singles which have notched up over 60 million streams, multiple No.1spotst’s on the Hype Machine charts and rotation on Radio 1, Triple J and Beats 1.

Now they offer up an emphatically assured debut LP, its clean, springy beats and shimmering synths underpinned by the rich, emotive clarity of Anna’s voice. Recorded in Oslo and mixed in Copenhagen and London by Luke Smith (Foals, Depeche Mode), Lovers is a coherent but endlessly varied beast.

The story of the project began five years back. Anna was working in a shop in a small town near Oslo, settled with her first love whilst anticipating a life of routine and normality when a customer came in and changed her life. Polite and well groomed, the woman, a stranger to Anna, began making daily visits, browsing for hours but never buying a thing. One afternoon, for reasons Anna will never know, the woman approached her and implored her to abandon the traditional life she had planned out, and go and expand her horizons. The plea jolted something in Anna, and in an act of uncharacteristic spontaneity, she booked a flight to Australia, leaving behind the life and the person she thought she’d spend her life with.

Her time in Australia was fulfilling but turbulent. She fell in love again, only to have her heart broken as suddenly and inexplicably as her decision to leave Norway in the first place. That’s when she met Brady Daniell-Smith. Brady, who’d been struggling with his own complicated relationships, was performing an acoustic show in Melbourne; Anna was in the audience, drinking with friends. Becoming friends, he encouraged her to find solace in songwriting, discovering they could make music together as a way of exorcizing the demons of their love lives and the project was born. He jokingly started calling her “Anna Of The North” and the name stuck.

It’s the two of them combined that make Anna Of The North’s sparse, brooding electro-pop so potent. Brady, who’s from New Zealand and grew up partly in Australia, injects elements of the countries’ bright, vibrant electronic scene to their music; Anna brings the glacial minimalism of her Scandinavian roots.

Anna of the North’s debut album Lovers is due for release on September 8 via Honeymoon / +1 Records / Different Recordings.

Live Dates:
10 Aug 2017 – Way Out West, SW
18 Aug – Pukkelpop Festival, BE
23 Aug – Hudson Ballroom – Sydney, AU
24 Aug – Northcote Social Club – Melbourne, AU
26 Aug – Maroochy Music & Vis Arts Festival, AU
09 Sep – Bestival, UK
26 Sep – Omeara – London, UK
12 Oct – Obaren, Stockholm, SW
13 Oct – Vega Ideal Bar, Copenhagen, DK
14 Oct – Häkken, Hamburg, DE
16 Oct – Auster Club, Berlin, DE
18 Oct – Sugarfactory ADE Live, Amsterdam, NL19 Oct – Yuca, Cologne, DE20 Oct – Pop Up du Label, Paris, FR
09 Nov – Parkteateret – Oslo, NO
18 Nov – Room 2 P12 @ Transardentes, Brussels, BE
10 Nov – Det Akademiske Kvarter – Bergen, NO

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July 26, 2017 · 3:44 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Priest

Priest announces their debut album New Flesh. The album is set for release on the 17th of November on Lövely Records. The Stockholm based band have during the spring released praised singles as “The Cross”, “Reloader” and “The Pit”.  Album producer Simon Söderberg (Alpha/ ex Ghost member) has worked with the band to perfect their sound. There is modern touch with a retro vibe over the entire album. New Flesh contains a total of ten tracks that that brings 2017 back to the 80´s.

New Flesh will be released on all digital platforms and as physical CDs and LPs. The album is available as a bundle including CD, LP, Priest Logo Metal Pin and a cover art Tote bag. The LPs are available on black and purple colored vinyl. Everything can be orded from: http://freighttrain.se/

Tracklist
1 – The Pit
2 – Vaudeville
3 – History in Black
4 – Populist
5 – The Cross
6 – Private Eye
7 – Nightmare Hotel
8 – Virus
9 – Call My Name
10 – Reloader

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July 24, 2017 · 10:37 am

Check ‘Em Out: Colt.22

Los Angeles alternative indie-rock band Colt.22 will release their highly-anticipated debut album Freedom/Freewill on indie label Elite Frequency Group with distribution by The Orchard on Friday, August 25th. Colt.22 is a collaboration between two experienced music producers and writers, John “Fingazz” Stary and Travis Pavur.

Their mission is to draw upon influences of the past and fuse them with the sound of now. This fusion has a powerful reaction, like the recoil of a gun, firing out lyrical content like bullets of self-awareness and knowledge. They blend Stary’s gritty emotional vocals and driving beats with Pavur’s solid rock guitar riffs. A compilation of 11 songs, Freedom/Freewill is an exploration of blues, rock, and electronic music that uses heavy anthemic chants layered with harmonies.

Pre-order Freedom/Freewill – http://apple.co/2t32elP

The video for the album’s first single “Call To Action” is a tribute to cult classic films like Kill Bill and Sin City. Following Los Angeles parkour stunt group Substance Over Hype, “it’s got gunfights, martial arts, and car chases and is generally bad ass” (Ghettoblaster Magazine).

Both, Fingazz and Pavur, met in 2011 while working on a project for Interscope Records. Fingazz is a platinum award certified hip-hop producer best known around the globe as one of the few masters of the “talkbox,” which has been featured on records by Snoop Dogg, Mike Posner, Far East Movement, Flo Rida, Tyga, Bryson Tiller, Just Blaze, and many more.  His sound can be described as “Future Funk” and his song “Winning” won on So You Think You Can Dance.

In contrast, the New Orleans-born Pavur is a rocker through and through. He has recorded and produced countless up and coming rock acts from his own Los Angeles studio, Golden Beat Recording. Currently, he is an engineer at the historic Valentine Recording Studios as well, working with acts like Lana Del Rey and Eagles of Death Metal. During their time at Interscope, the two lived together in a Hollywood Hills music collective. They immediately hit it off and began working together with an intense focus to fuel the world with a new alt rock sound. Enter: Colt.22.

Another track, “Find Your Pride” has been featured in the promos for Showtime’s show Billions.

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July 24, 2017 · 10:18 am

Coast Modern Tour Dates

Photo Credit: Faye Webster

Off the back of single releases totaling over 30 Million streams, Coast Modern – comprised of Coleman Trapp and Luke Atlas – recently announced that their highly anticipated self-titled debut album will be released on July 28th, 2017, via 300 Entertainment / +1 Records. The band is pleased to announce their headlining Fall tour, kicking off this September.

Like a trip to Disneyland; with each song like a stop in another world, Coast Modern’s debut album is a rollercoaster ride through a musical spectrum that spans from introspective acoustic streams of consciousness to psychedelic jams to relaxed dancehall vibes. Coast Modern are capable of covering a large swath of musical territory, yet a strong, self-aware voice and a sense of groove tie them all together.

After releasing their debut single, “Hollow Life”, the duo have gone on to release a handful of tracks in their short tenure as a band – the anthemic “Animals,” summer-tinged “Guru” and jungle cruise jam, “The Way It Was” (all four of which sat at the top of the HypeMachine charts), and followed up with “Comb My Hair”, “Pockets Full of No” and “Dive” – tracks to kick you out of the most serious of funks.

Garnering attention from every tastemaker under the sun, including Pigeons and Planes, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair and more, their tracks would creep their way to the airwaves, generating heavy rotation from the likes of SiriusXM Alt Nation and KCRW.

Coast Modern made their live debut at SXSW, playing their first shows ever as a band, and just a few weeks later were playing one of New York City’s most coveted venues, Terminal 5, kicking off their support slot touring with BORNS. The duo has since toured with the likes of The Wombats, The Temper Trap and just wrapped up the Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour.

Kicking off in San Francisco and hitting major markets including New York, Chicago and a hometown show in LA, be sure to catch the band on the road this Fall.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sep-6 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Sep-7 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Sep-8 – Seattle, WA – Tractor
Sep-9 – Spokane, WI- Tinnabulation Music Festival
Sep-11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Sep-12 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Sep-14 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
Sep-16 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
Sep-18 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
Sep-19 – Detroit, MI – Shelter
Sep-20 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
Sep-22 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
Sep-23 – Albany, NY – The Hollow
Sep-25 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Sep-26 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
Sep-27 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
Sep-29 – Nashville, TN – The High Watt
Sep-30 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
Oct-2 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Oct-3 – Austin, TX – Stubbs JR
Oct-4 – Dallas, TX – HOB – Cambridge Room
Oct-7 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel
Oct-8 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
Oct-9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
Oct-10 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues

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July 21, 2017 · 4:07 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Tattoo Money

“For those unfamiliar with Tattoo, he’s an artist to watch. He approaches Hip Hop with an alternative, almost indie perspective that gives his sound a unique feeling.” – EARMILK

“The startling track, both intimate and anthemic, could perhaps best be described as feminist-folk-rap.” – BlackBook
Brooklyn-based, alternative hip-hop artist and songwriter, Tattoo Money, announces his debut untitled EP. The lyric driven EP was inspired by his surrounding world, using only one guitar, one synth and a drum machine. Untitled is due out August 11th, 2017.

Today, Tattoo Money shares his latest video, “Caffeine On An Empty Stomach” via EARMILK, who uncovered the deeper meaning of the video and track, stating, “Throughout the video, different groups attempt to put Tattoo into a stereotypical box. Whether it’s Timberlands or a bottle of Hennessey, groups try and force products onto the emcee as if he should accept them because of his looks. As the video goes on, he runs away from all of these forces before confronting them with his music at the finale.” Last month, lead single, “Black Girl Magic,” premiered on BlackBook, who stated, “The startling track, both intimate and anthemic, could perhaps best be described as feminist-folk-rap.”

Tattoo Money (also known as Pete Armour) was born in Brooklyn before hipsters, bike lanes and artist lofts. Hip-hop was at the core of his upbringing. but Armour’s treasured music collection always included rock bands, such as Cold War Kids, Avenged Sevenfold and Arctic Monkeys. Playing around with the dichotomy of growing up in Brooklyn during the hip-hop golden age, and being into rock and metal, Tattoo Money is an authentic fusion of modern youth culture, creating something new out of a distinct variety of influences.

For Tattoo Money, fitting in has never been part of the agenda, nor was it attainable.

“When I showed up to play hip hop shows they always thought I was an R&B singer. When I show up to play at rock shows (with a guitar on my back, mind you) I always get asked if I’m DJ’ing.”

Tattoo Money writes songs about relationships. Relationships of all kinds – with lovers, exes, friends, enemies and his relationship with New York City. Performed live, these songs aren’t just his songs, these songs become everyone’s songs. The energy transferred in the room between the crowd and the performer is what Tattoo Money feeds off of – for him, it’s all about vibes and connection. With a focus on narrative, Tattoo Money’s minimalist instrumentation and style drives focus to the meaningful stories and personal experiences within the music. EP tracks such as “Black Girl Magic” and “Caffeine On An Empty Stomach” display Tattoo Money’s way of incorporating his personal hardships into meaningful change. The first track hopes to uplift black women and the future of amazing black women during this difficult time, while the second hopes to push beyond the boundaries of black stereotypes.
UNTITLED – TRACKLISTING

01. Caffeine On An Empty Stomach
02. Barrington Levy
03. Levels
04. Black Girl Magic
05. Liars

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July 21, 2017 · 3:25 pm

Check ‘Em Out: The Kite String Tangle

Australian electronic artist and producer The Kite String Tangle has dropped his debut self-titled album, and it is an absolute work of art. (Check it out below!)

This latest addition to the solo project of Danny Harley is an exploration into the idea of what success and happiness truly mean. The honesty that flows throughout the 11 tracks is crystal clear, with a heavy emotional quality reflected throughout the brave production choices and unburdened lyrics.

“It’s a dynamic album that I hope shows many sides to the music I make and what I’m trying to do with The Kite String Tangle, which is essentially to reach people and hopefully provide a soundtrack for their own existential crisis,” Harley said.
The album was written in his bedroom in order to retain that ‘bedroom producer’ ethos, wanting to create something honest, something of which he could be really proud.
“I think throughout the album you can hear me trying to find my sound and my place in the world, and whilst I wanted to create something timeless and cohesive, I think there’s also a clunky charm to when it sounds a little lost and confused. To be honest, it’s a good representation of how I was feeling throughout a lot of the process,” he said.
Having just released the visuals to “The Prize” there’s no denying fans will be dusting off their dancing shoes right in time for his Splendour in the Grass set. It’s a party tune that will have you working up a sweat on a hot summery day, and will keep you warm during the cold winter nights.
 “Waiting” on the other hand is an underground pulsating banger with a more melodious insight into the light and shade of what electronic music means to this producer. It’s simple in lyrical content but intricate in production conceptualisation.
As you go on this musical journey with The Kite String Tangle you’ll hear a strong presence of strings and horns, something Harley longed to record for a long time. You’ll even hear organs, pianos, drums and all manner of acoustic instruments dotted throughout.
“I’ve always wanted to record strings and horns but have never had the opportunity to up until now. I’ve always been trying to marry the worlds of more traditional song writing like Bon Iver, James Blake, London Grammar and Broods, with artists that are more heavy handed with their production like Odesza, Flume and Purity Ring,” he said.
The Kite String Tangle’s debut album is available everywhere now via Exist Recordings, and Australian fans can catch him performing at Splendour in the Grass today on the “Mix Up Stage”.

And if you weren’t quick enough to snatch up Splendour tickets, not to worry. The Kite String Tangle is hitting the road shortly after for a national tour with ODESZA in September and some boutique festivals in Wollongong on August 19 and in Brisbane on October 14 at Red Deer Festival. For tickets and further info, head to http://www.thekitestringtangle.com.

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July 21, 2017 · 1:23 pm

Newest From X Ambassadors: “Ahead Of Myself”

“Triumphant, euphoric, immensely uplifting” – Clash Magazine

“Bombastic rock that’s as stomping as it is diaristic, leavened by big-tent pop hooks and a hint of hip-hop swagger” – Rolling Stone

US trio X Ambassadors return with a brand new single “Ahead Of Myself” which is the lead track from their upcoming second album.

Released today, “Ahead Of Myself” was co-written with American multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer, and musician Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes, Chainsmokers) and was added straight onto Spotify’s UK and Global New Music Playlists as well as Deezer and Amazon’s Brand New Music UK playlists.

“Ahead Of Myself” is the first taste of their new album, the follow up to the critically acclaimed, gold-certified debut album VHS, which featured the two multi-platinum hits “Renegades” and “Unsteady”.

The success of VHS saw X Ambassadors venture out on a near two-year touring odyssey, winning over fans around the world and performing at the likes of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Life is Beautiful, Shaky Knees festivals and many more.

The three-piece, formed of brothers Sam and Casey Harris and college friend Adam Levin, have collaborated with a number of top names such as Tom Morello, Elle King, A$AP Ferg, Wiz Khalifa, Eminem and labelmates Imagine Dragons.

Earlier this year they gave fans a taste of their current sonic direction with the release of “The Devil You Know”, which featured in a trailer for the upcoming Tom Cruise film American Made, “Torches” which was heard in Transformers: The Last Knight, and the inspirational “Hoping”, which came about following the US presidential election.

X Ambassadors will be playing the Radio 1/NME stage at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival before headlining a show at London’s ULU on August 29th.

 

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July 21, 2017 · 10:47 am

The Darkness Is Back With New Track “All The Pretty Girls”

England’s most distinctive, multiple award-winning, platinum-selling, hugely entertaining rock gods – and one-time saviors of rock’n’roll turned national pleasures – The Darkness are back with their fifth album Pinewood Smile, due for release October 6th through Cooking Vinyl.

Marking the announcement, the band has today unveiled the spectacular album opener “All The Pretty Girls” across all streaming platforms. It’s also available for download with pre-orders of the album for the instant gratification of fans.

“All The Pretty Girls” is a glorious, hard-rockin’, autobiographical anthem intellectually examining the fact that when you’re a rock star you get a lot of attention from ladies and discussing the ethical conundrums that come with that.

As Justin Hawkins so eloquently sings with trouser-splitting vocal magnificence; “All the pretty girls, like me for who I am / All the pretty girls, when the record goes platinum / Plenty of action, massive attraction, when you’re selling out stadiums / All the pretty girls… and their mums”. 

Addressing the forthcoming album and The Darkness’ undoubted relevance in 2017, Justin asks, somewhat rhetorically of the world at large, “Why should anybody care? Because if you don’t, we’re fucked!! History will remember us as the apathetic generation who negligently ushered in a dreadful dystopian age that may or may not come to be known as ‘The Rise of the Arseclowns’. We cannot allow this to continue! You may not give a shit about Brexit or Trump, but PLEASE… give a shit about The Darkness otherwise the last bastion of cultural sensibility will fall and our airwaves will be polluted by meaningless pop purveyed by arseholes and morons… Oh wait!”

In addition to the cerebral treatise of “All The Pretty Girls”, the album boasts the swashbuckling “Buccaneers Of Hispaniola”, the expletive-strewn howl of frustration that is “Southern Trains”, the hugely emotional “Why Don’t The Beautiful Cry?”, the globally anthemic “Japanese Prisoner Of Love”, and the ode to pumping out smash hit after smash hit “Solid Gold”, which finds The Darkness addressing the turbulent nature of the music industry and how they have enjoyed its flamboyant highs and spectacular lows.

Written in Putney, recorded in Cornwall and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), the compositions have all the crucial elements of classic Darkness fare, but with added layers for the ears to peel away at… like a sonic onion but a lot tastier. It also features the drumming and vocal talents of gorgeous new band member Rufus Tiger Taylor, son of Queen legend Roger Taylor, who shares vocal duties with Justin on two of the tracks.

To celebrate the release of their comeback album Pinewood Smile, The Darkness will be touring extensively at the end of this year playing 17 dates in the UK throughout November and December including a headline show at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo on December 10th (see dates below). The shows are part of a wider European tour, full dates can be found at http://www.thedarknesslive.com/tour-dates/

The Darkness has returned revitalized, re-energized and ready to take the world by the balls once again with Pinewood Smile.
PINEWOOD SMILE TRACKLIST

  1. All The Pretty Girls
  2. Buccaneers Of Hispaniola
  3. Solid Gold
  4. Southern Trains
  5. Why Don’t The Beautiful Cry?
  6. Japanese Prisoner Of Love
  7. Lay Down With Me, Barbara
  8. I Wish I Was In Heaven
  9. Happiness
  10. Stampede Of Love

The album will be released on CD, limited edition Deluxe CD (featuring four bonus tracks), Gatefold Heavyweight Vinyl, cassette and in both Standard and Deluxe digital versions.

THE DARKNESS UK TOUR DATES
NOVEMBER 
11/23 – Southampton, O2 Guildhall
11/24 – Manchester, Academy
11/25 – Blackburn, King George’s Hall
11/27 – Leeds, O2 Academy
11/28 – Newcastle, O2 Academy
11/29 – Glasgow, O2 Academy

DECEMBER
12/1 – Stoke-On-Trent, Victoria Hall
12/2 – Nottingham, Rock City
12/3  – Norwich, UEA
12/5 – Guildford, G Live
12/6 – Margate, Winter Gardens
12/7 – Southend-On-Sea, Cliffs Pavilion
12/9 – Birmingham, O2 Academy
12/10 – London, Eventim Apollo
12/11 – Brighton, Dome
12/13 – Cardiff, St David’s Hall
12/14 – Bristol, Colston Hall

2003 gave birth to one of the most extraordinary and best-loved bands in the UK. The Darkness released their debut album Permission To Land to overnight success, topping the UK charts, going 5x Platinum and selling over 1.5 MILLION copies in the UK alone. It spawned a series of hit singles including “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, “Growing On Me”, “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” and “Love Is Only A Feeling”. It clocked up a series of awards including three BRIT Awards, two Kerrang Awards and an Ivor Novello for ‘Songwriters Of The Year’ amongst many others.

The Darkness played a number of landmark shows, including a headline set at the 2004 Reading & Leeds Festivals, as part of a whirlwind career of global touring as international sensations. The band then built upon the success of their debut with their 2005 follow up One Way Ticket To Hell… And Back, which produced the Top 10 hit “One Way Ticket”.

In 2006 Justin Hawkins left the band, checking into rehab and The Darkness fell apart. Following successful treatment, the band reformed in 2011 touring Europe and South America in 2012 with Lady Gaga. They released their comeback album Hot Cakes that year and Last Of Our Kind in 2015.

The band have now returned in 2017 with Pinewood Smile, their first album to come through Cooking Vinyl. Ahead of the album’s announcement, The Darkness toured Europe in support of Guns N’ Roses and are playing a number of festivals in the UK and Europe during the summer.

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