Photo Credit: Roddy Bow
Ben Howard has revealed two new tracks off his forthcoming album, Collections From The Whiteout out March 26 (Republic Records). “Fall Out” and “Follies Fixture” are both released today.
On “Far Out” Ben shares, “The song is essentially a critique of how easily people are drawn to violence and animosity without reason, just to pass the time. And ultimately how there is perhaps a simpler, more fulfilling path.
“I wanted it to have a very British rhyming slang feel and a Roald Dahl sense of macabre humour. I fear my tinkering with it has made it a little more plain and serious”
Regarding "Follies Fixture", Ben explains: “Follies Fixture is a love song. It deals with an apathetic period of my life searching for routine in Paris.”
Today’s singles follow the previously released “Crowhurst’s Meme” and “What A Day” which features drummer/producer Yussef Dayesayes. Collections From The Whiteout heralds the first time Ben has opened the door to collaboration, working The National’s Aaron Dessner on production, and a team of players from the likes of Big Thief, This Is The Kit, and Dayes. Strings were orchestrated by Bon Iver/Laura Marling collaborator Rob Moose.
Ben Howard will return to the live arena in September, his first live shows since four consecutive sold-out nights at Brixton Academy back in January 2019.
The Royal Festival Hall shows, on 18th and 19th September, will go on general sale from Friday 5th March via www.benhowardmusic.co.uk, preceded by a fan access pre-sale from Wednesday 3rd March.
Collections From The Whiteout was made in a state of near permanent transience as Howard traveled between New York (where he holed up with Dessner at his Long Pond Studio), Devon, and Paris where he once again went into the studio with Dessner. For the last 18 months, however, he’s been enjoying the stability of his new home in Ibiza. It’s from here that he put the finishing touches on the record, as he and Aaron exchanged final mixes online. It’s a substantial record. A sonic adventure that continues this nagging suggestion that Ben Howard is one of the UK’s most inventive and naturally talented of songwriters.
"The song is accompanied by a video that portrays distorted images of Howard in a field as the track ebbs and flows with chaotic synths." Rolling Stone on Crowhurts’s Meme
“lyrical brilliance” Spin on Crowhurts’s Meme
“This sunny first single is brushed ever so faintly with a waft of psychedelia.”
Evening Standard on “What A Day”
"A soothing baroque pop song, with mellow guitar chords and piano keys gently guiding the artist’s vocals to a soothing space." MXDWN on “What A Day”
“A mixture of love, light, and darkness.” Clash Magazine on “What A Day”
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