White Denim Unveils New Single “Ruby” | Announces Nat'l Tour | LP out 4/24 via Bella Union

White Denim Unveils “Ruby” Single + Live Video  Announces North American + European Tour Public on-sale: Thursday, April 2 @ 10am local Tour dates below + here New Album, 13, due out April 24 via Bella Union 13 album pre-order Singles: “(God Created) Lock And Key” “Hired Hand #2” “Ruby”

Credit: Charlie Weinmann  White Denim band leader James Petralli’s wide-ranging musical appetite has become more voracious over time, delivering new album 13  – out April 24 via Bella Union – as a groove-heavy alchemy of rock, funk, dubby calypso, soul and down-dirty blues and shimmery sunshine-pop. Following acclaimed early album cuts “(God Created) Lock And Key” and “Hired Hand #2”, today he shares the brand new down dirty country album track “Ruby” which premiered with MAGNET Magazine. White Denim has also announced a slew of national tour dates, including stops in Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, Cleveland, Portland, Los Angeles and much more. Tickets available here. Watch / Share: “Ruby” James shares, "I wrote a version of “Ruby” quite a few years ago. Every few months the melody would pop back into my mind for a while before drifting out again. I picked up a few old cassette recorders at a neighborhood flea market that warbled audio in a way that vividly sparked a memory of the texture of the first few bars of “Street Fighting Man” by The Rolling Stones. This was enough for me to begin chasing the production of the song in earnest. I get really excited about making direct connections between my work and the history of rock and roll. I'm not really a purist. I do however feel that attempting to build something new upon existing foundations that represents my friends and I is about the most enjoyable and life affirming way I've found to spend time." Community and connection is the backbone of White Denim’s dynamic new album. Imbued with the same questing spirit that’s been the band’s trademark since first starting in Austin, Texas, some 20 years ago, the new collection is strapped with commentary on power, generational cycles of abuse, shame, violence, and survival while urgently committing to the importance of family and creative freedom. In addition to Petralli being born on the thirteenth of August, the album title holds multi-significance sprinkled throughout the album. ‘13’ in numerology can signify independence, creativity, and a solid foundation, but inversely is often considered to be unlucky and can signify chaos and misfortune. It also happens to be the thirteenth album of White Denim’s career. Tour Dates - TICKETS 5/28: Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive 5/29: Wells, NV @ Schellraiser Presents: Humboldt Hideaway 5/31: Boulder, CO @ The Velvet Elk 6/2: First Collins, CO @ Washington’s 6/3: Denver, CO @ Marquis 6/5: Dallas, TX @ AM/FM 6/6: Austin, TX @ Central Machine Works 7/7: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern 7/8: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios 7/10: Sebastopol, CA @ Hopmonk Tavern 7/11: Camino, CA @ Folk On The Farm - Delfino Farms 7/12: San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel 7/13: Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe's Alley 7/14: Ojai, CA @ Deer Lodge 7/16: Los Angeles, CA @ Sid the Cat Auditorium 8/27: Belfast, UK @ Limelight 2 8/28: Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan's 8/30: Glasgow, UK @ Classic Grand 8/31: Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny 9/1: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 9/2: Bristol, UK @ The Fleece 9/4: Brighton, UK @ Brighton Psych Fest 9/5: Manchester, UK @ Manchester Psych Fest 9/7: London, UK @ Moth Club 9/8: London, UK @ Moth Club 9/12: Asten Heusden, Netherlands @ Misty Fields Festival 9/13: Cologne, Germany @ MTC 9/14: Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow Club 9/15: Utrecht, Netherlands @ De Helling 9/18: Barcelona, Spain @ Upload 9/20: Madrid, Spain @ El Sol 10/1: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl 10/2: Asheville, NC @ Burnpile Pre-Party - Eulogy 10/3: Raleigh, NC @ Kings 10/5: Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall 10/6: Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall 10/7: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl 10/8: Boston, MA @ Deep Cuts 10/9: Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground - Showcase Lounge 10/10: Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse 10/12: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom 10/13: Evanston, IL @ Space Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Rolling Stone Future 25's Haylie Davis Shares New Single; Album out June 5th

HAYLIE DAVIS MEASURES “HORNS OF TIME”   EAGERLY AWAITED COMING OF AGE DEBUT ALBUM HERALDED WITH PLAINTIVE COSMIC COUNTRY REVERIE – LISTEN   ACCLAIMED LAUREL CANYON SONGSTRESS NAMED TO ROLLING STONE’S INFLUENTIAL “THE FUTURE 25”   WANDERING STAR ARRIVES VIA FIRE RECORDS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 5   PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW *** NEW YORK AND LONDON SHOWS CONFIRMED

“When you first hear Haylie Davis’ music, it’s easy to think you’ve stumbled across a lost 1973 album found in a dusty record bin…A cross between Emmylou Harris and the cult psychedelic folk singer Linda Perhacs, with melodies that beam through like Laurel Canyon sunshine.”  – ROLLING STONE (“THE FUTURE 25”)   “One of California’s brightest apparitions…A beautiful diorama that tries to contain the many divergent thread of folk, all bound by her soaring voice.” - SHINDIG! (****)   “Charming echoes of effortlessly cool 70s folk.” – AMERICANA UK   “Lush folk-tinged pop that’s comfortable in its own bittersweet sighs.” – RAVEN SINGS THE BLUES Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Haylie Davis has shared her latest single, “Horns of Time,” available now via Fire Records. The plaintive cosmic country reverie heralds Davis’s eagerly awaited coming-of-age debut album, Wandering Star, arriving digitally and on Classic Black Vinyl, Limited Orange Vinyl (Rough Trade Exclusive), and CD on Friday, June 5. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now.   “I’ve been going to a woman’s gathering in Northern California since I was a young kid,” says Haylie Davis. “There’s a woman there who goes by ‘Stargazer Lee’ and she holds group stargazing out in the field at night where she teaches astrology and astronomy. She’s truly a genius in her storytelling and knowledge of the cosmos. One thing she taught us is that when you hold your fingers in a ‘rock on’ form against the sky, the distance in between your pointer finger and pinky accounts for about an hour of time on earth and it can help you tell how long it will take for a star to set below the horizon. This measure is called ‘Horns of Time’ because your fingers look like little horns and they keep time. But I think it stuck with me because it also points to how tiny we really are under all those stars.”    LISTEN TO “HORNS OF TIME”   PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE WANDERING STAR   Recently named to Rolling Stone’s influential “The Future 25,” Haylie Davis has been hailed for “honoring the classics and chasing her dreams to make music full of radiant Laurel Canyon spirit.” Brimming with infectious hooks, soaring choruses, and enduring storylines that tug at the heartstrings, Wandering Star sees Davis looking at her life thus – the wins, the losses, the people she has met, and the places she has been. The album includes such singles as the luminous, piano-led title track, “Wandering Star,” the critically acclaimed “Young Man,” the heartfelt ballad, “Country Boy,” and the gorgeous slice of plush melancholia, “Golden Age,” all joined by evocative official music videos streaming now at YouTube. An introspective lament for misplaced affection propelled by echoey, yearning steel guitar and Davis’s flawless vocal delivery, “Young Man” earned immediate praise from such outlets as ColoRising, which wrote, “‘Young Man’ finds Haylie Davis in a space of tenderness and understanding yet self-protecting. Using lush melodies as ear candy, there is a spaciousness to the production that allows for the vocalist to fly.”   Meanwhile, “Golden Age” was met by applause from such publications as Raven Sings The Blues, which praised “Davis’ ability to drape her songs in the soft-focus melancholy of the ‘70s,” adding, “She’s hinted at visions through the amber glass and shag of the decade before, but always tempered it a bit with a folk austerity. For ‘Golden Age,’ Davis fully embraces the widescreen approach of classic production, and it feels good on her.”

Photo Credit: Sarah Ward

LISTEN TO “WANDERING STAR” WATCH "WANDERING STAR" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO LISTEN TO “YOUNG MAN” WATCH “YOUNG MAN” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO LISTEN TO "COUNTRY BOY" WATCH "COUNTRY BOY" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO LISTEN TO “GOLDEN AGE” WATCH “GOLDEN AGE” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO Raised in Northern California and currently based in Los Angeles, Haylie Davis has drawn global attention for her passionate reimagining of classic Laurel Canyon folk-pop, highlighted by her intricate storytelling and remarkable vocal range. Having previously collaborated with like-minded artists such as Drugdealer, Sylvie, Alex Amen, and Sam Burton, Davis now sets forth on her own unique musical journey, fusing euphoric melodies and strikingly original songcraft into an incandescent brand of modern cosmic Americana. Timeless in feeling, yet unmistakably of the moment, Wandering Star affirms Haylie Davis’s place in the firmament of today’s most singular new artists.   “Even though I feel like I am a part of something, I am doing things my own way,” Haylie Davis says. “I’ve made friends and I’ve made enemies; I’ve gotten lucky and I’ve struck out. It’s important to remember who you are so you don’t get carried away in the era of algorithms and followers.   “I believe everyone has a calling, a whisper in their heart. Deciding to listen to it might feel like an impossible choice, or at least it did for me. It also takes a lot of courage to be a wandering star. To be lost and find the will to keep going is a very difficult thing to do.”   Davis recently celebrated the arrival of Wandering Star with a special live performance for Fire Records’ SXSW 2026 showcase at Austin, TX’s Hotel Vegas. She has now confirmed live appearances in New York and London. Additional dates will be announced soon. HAYLIE DAVIS - LIVE 2026  MAY 29 - London, UK - Theatreship Canary Wharf (Presented by Broadside Hacks) JUNE 6 - New York, NY - Rough Trade Acoustic Instore - 3 pm

Listen To The Bug Club’s New Single “Yours (If You Want Me)”

Today, you can hear The Bug Club’s “Yours (If You Want Me),” the introspective, tender, anxious, and really good new single out today on all streaming services from Sub Pop. This new standout is from Every Single Muscle, the Welsh duo’s new album out May 29th, 2026.
 
The Bug Club is also announcing new US tour dates for June and July 2026, beginning Thursday, June 18th in Toronto, ON at The Garrison and running through Friday, July 10th in Chicago, IL at Lincoln Hall. Tickets for these shows will be on sale Friday, March 27th at 10 AM (Local).
 
The Bug Club has also added three shows to its previously announced headlining UK run for May and June 2026. The new shows include two nights in Manchester at The Eagle on Thursday, May 14th & Friday, May 15th, and one night in Glasgow at The Glad Cafe on Saturday, May 16th. The band will also support Super Furry Animals at Brixton Academy in London on May 23rd. Please see a full list of dates below.
 

May/June/August 2026, UK Shows
Sat. May 09 - Wrexham, UK -  The Rockin’ Chair
Thu. May 14 - Manchester, UK - The Eagle
Fri. May 15 - Manchester, UK - The Eagle
Sat. May 16 - Glasgow, UK - The Glad Cafe
Sat. May 23 - London, UK - O2 Academy Brixton
Mon. Jun. 01- Norwich, UK - Arts Centre
Tue. Jun. 02 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Wed. Jun. 03 - Bristol, UK - Lantern Hall (Bristol Beacon)
Thu. Jun. 04 - Liverpool, UK - Hangar 34
Fri. Jun. 05 - Leeds, UK - Project House
Sat. Jun. 06 - Barry, UK - Memo Arts Centre
Sat. Aug. 22 - Crickhowell, UK, Green Man Festival
* supporting Super Furry Animals

 
June/July 2026, US Shows
Thu. Jun. 18 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison ^
Fri. Jun. 19 - Picton, ON - Matron Brewing ^
Sat. Jun. 20 - Burnstown, ON - Neat ^
Sun. Jun. 21 - Montreal, QC - Foufs ^
Wed. Jun. 24 - Charlottetown, PE - Trailside Inn ^
Thu. Jun. 25 - Fredericton, NB - The Cap ^
Fri. Jun. 26 - Halifax, NS - Seahorse ^
Sat. Jun. 27 - Sydney, NS - Daniel’s Ale House ^
Mon. Jun. 29 - Portland, ME  - SPACE Gallery
Tue. Jun. 30 - Medford, MA - Deep Cuts
Wed. Jul. 01 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere Rooftop
Thu. Jul. 02 - Philadelphia, PA - Ukie Club
Mon. Jul. 06 - Washington, DC - DC9
Tue. Jul. 07 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Back Room
Wed. Jul. 08 - Asheville, NC  - Static Age
Thu. Jul. 09 - Nashville, TN - Blue Room @ Third Man
Fri. Jul. 10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
^ w/ Boojums

 
Every Single Muscle is available to preorder now on CD/LP/all DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com in North America, Mega Mart Europe in the UK + EU, and your local record store, will receive the limited Loser Edition opaque blue (NA) and blue vinyl (UK/EU)(all vinyl color editions whilst stock lasts!). Every Single Muscle also features what is likely the band’s most BONKERS cover art to date, illustrated by Ross Willmett.
 
Every Single Muscle features today’s offering “Yours (If You Want Me), along with approximately 17 other tight and engaging garage-punk numbers like “Watching the Omnibus,” “A Good Day for Dying,” “Make It Count,” and “My Uncle Warren Drives a Passat.”  Every Single Muscle was produced and mixed by Tom Rees at Rat Trap Studios in Cardiff, Wales, and mastered by Mikey Young.
 
More on The Bug Club here.
 
What People Are Saying About The Bug Club
“Welsh duo The Bug Club have become one of the most reliable DIY-style indie rock groups of the last few years, and the first single from their upcoming album Every Single Muscle does not disappoint. “Watching the Omnibus” is a patented Bug Club ripper that clocks in at just over a minute, packed with hooks and self-deprecating lyrics.” “Indie Basement: Best Songs & Albums of February 2026” - BROOKLYN VEGAN
 
“‘Watching the Omnibus’ packs a ton of amped-up guitar riffage and existentialism into less than 90 seconds: “I’m still alive and kicking/ And doing reasonable well/ You’ve got to die for something/ But there’s some things we don’t sell,” go some of its more memorable lines.” STEREOGUM

The Bug Club
Every Single Muscle
 
Tracklisting:
1. Miss Wales 2012
2. A Good Day for Dying
3. Make It Count
4. Cut to Black
5. Full Range of Motion
6. Pretty as a Magazine
7. Look Like Me
8. How Can We Be Friends
9. Every Single Muscle
10. Shiny and Wet
11. Semi-Automatic
12. In My Short Life
13. Watching the Omnibus
14. It’s Our Manager David
15. Yours (If You Want Me)
16. All My Clothes Fell Off
17. Third Best Friend
18. My Uncle Warren Drives a Passat

WU LYF share their final single "The Fool" ahead of forthcoming album and North American tour

WU LYF SHARE NEW SINGLE “THE FOOL”  EMBARKING ON NORTH AMERICAN TOUR NEW ALBUM A WAVE THAT WILL NEVER BREAK DUE APRIL 10TH

WU LYF by Anthony Harrison  LISTEN: https://www.worldunite.org/ https://wulyf.bandcamp.com/album/the-fool (April 1, 2026) –  WU LYF today share “The Fool,” the final single before their long-awaited second album A Wave That Will Never Break, released April 10th 2026 via their L Y F community platform. Released aptly on April fool’s day - exactly one year to the day since they announced their return - the track arrives alongside news of a UK outstore tour taking place during album release week. As with the wider album, “The Fool” is being released through WU LYF’s own L Y F community - a platform the band have built to share their work directly with listeners, outside of traditional streaming models. The L Y F community lives on WORLDUNITE.ORG, where they will be holding an online worldwide listening party on Easter Sunday ahead of the album’s release on April 10th. The site also gives visitors access to journals, early access to tickets, exclusive merchandise, and fan forums - creating a space for the work to be experienced as a whole, not simply encountered in passing. Speaking about the track Ellery writes:  “The fool is one of those special songs that just appeared almost fully formed whilst jamming in the weeks before we went into record with sonic boom. It is a simple, sweet love song that leans into rock ’n’ roll cliché, giving voice to the archetypal holy fool - one who yearns after their lover as a path toward union with the divine.” The release arrives amid an extended run of live activity around the album. Following a series of European residencies earlier this year — including multi-night stays across Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam and Barcelona — the band depart for North America for their first extensive US and Canadian tour in over a decade. Then, on June 13th, they return home to Manchester, UK for a special performance at Albert Hall celebrating the 15th anniversary of Go Tell Fire To The Mountain at which the band will perform both of their albums in full.  Upcoming Live Dates 4/9 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell 4/11 - Liverpool, UK @ Baltic 4/13 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla 4/15 - London, UK @ Village Underground 4/24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere 4/26 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage 4/28 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair 4/30 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club 5/2 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 5/4 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos 5/5 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin 5/7 - San Francisco, CA @ Independent 5/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room (sold out) 5/9 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room (extra date) 06/13 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall

CAMILLE CAMILLE announces new album + shares new single "J'ai rêvé". Album 'Enchanted Sea' out May 29th via Labelman.

CAMILLE CAMILLE - Announces new album 'Enchanted Sea' out May 29th via Labelman - Shares new single "J'ai rêvé"

Camille Camille is the musical project of Belgian singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Camille Willemart. Known for her intimate songwriting and delicate, atmospheric sound, Camille Camille creates music that lives in the space between vulnerability and quiet strength. Camille Camille's new album Enchanted Sea is set for release May 29th via Labelman & new single "J'ai rêvé" is online now. “J’ai Rêvé” is the first single Camille Camille releases in her mother tongue, French. Like any good sailor’s ballad, it captures the longing for a distant lover and the hope that love can prevail across time and space.  On the track Camille said "To be honest, I had to dive into my voice memos to find the first drafts of J’ai Rêvé and remember when and where it came to be. I was navigating a long-distance relationship. Life — and pretty much everything — felt so uncertain. The only thing I could hold on to was hope and trust that life would do its thing and bring us together again somewhere, someday. After performing the song with just my guitar for a few years, I recorded the first demo at home in Ghent in 2024, where the song took a new turn. I started hearing marching band–like drums and flutes, as if they were played by angels descending straight from heaven, telling me that everything would be okay. With the help of my acolyte Felix Baele (bass/charango), my friend Orlan Ghekiere (drums), and the flute kid inside me, J’ai Rêvé — originally a sad sailor’s ballad — simultaneously became a joyful hymn to love and hope."   For the video, Camille Camille collaborated with Madrid-based photographer and visual artist Elisa Soto. After years of being inspired by each other’s work, the pair finally met to bring their art together. “Working with Elisa had been a dream of mine for a long time. Letting her bring her visual poetry to J’ai Rêvé felt like a natural and obvious choice. Her dreamlike work and strong sensibility for colour have a rare authenticity, and I feel so blessed to share this collaboration with the world.”   "J'ai rêvé" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWbkR4oGsrY "J'ai rêvé" on other streaming services:: https://lab-music.lnk.to/Jaireve   Influenced by the folk tradition, her work feels deeply personal, often exploring themes of observation, connection, inner reflection and the natural world. Drawing comparisons to artists such as Josephine Foster and Robbie Basho, her songs are built around gentle guitar picking arrangements, subtle melodies, and a distinctive, enchanting voice.   The record is a voyage, a collection of songs as personal as they come. They capture the joys and pain, the beauty and transformation, inspired by my very own journey navigating life as a woman in the second half of her twenties. Exploring the meaning and challenges of adulthood, the tension between freedom and responsibility, the vastness and immensity of nature, and the infinite yet fragile dimensions of love.   Blending intimate storytelling with a more cinematic sound, Enchanted Sea also marks an artistic expansion, "I wanted to bring to life the full sonic landscape I long envisioned and reconnected with old friends — the flute and piano — along the way."   On the creation of the album, Camille said "Most of the tracks were recorded and produced at home, but I couldn’t have done it without the help of Michiel Renson, with whom I completed the mission at his home studio. I was also joined by friends and collaborators: the great Felix Baele (bass, charango, and backing vocals) and the talented brothers Orlan (drums) and Abel Ghekiere (clarinet, harmonium, and guitar). The recording process unfolded over time and places, giving each track its own sound and colour, resulting in an eclectic collection of songs woven together like a carefully crafted patchwork blanket."   Enchanted Sea follows on from her debut Could You Lend Me Your Eyes in 2021, which established her as a promising voice in the Belgian music scene. The album was praised for its understated beauty and contemplative tone, as well as for Camille’s ability to weave together hope and melancholy. Following the album’s release, she joined King Hannah, Widowspeak, and Kurt Vile on tour across Europe and the UK, bringing her intimate music to international audiences. She later collaborated with long-time friend Sam De Nef on the EP Waving, released in 2023. Pre-save album: https://lab-music.lnk.to/EnchantedSea Enchanted Sea artwork: Enchanted Sea tracklist: 1. Bottle Song 2. Le Vent 3. Dove or the Devil 4. In a Song (YouTube) 5. Saga's Lullaby  6. Enchanted Sea 7. J'ai rêvé 8. Piano Song 9. Dans Ce Paysage 10. Humming Song Links: Instagram Facebook Spotify

French Band SLIFT Announces New Album Fantasia Available Worldwide Friday, June 5th

The exhilarating French heavy psychedelic rock band SLIFT is returning with Fantasia, their new album, available Friday, June 6th, 2026 worldwide from Sub Pop. The longplayer was produced by the band at Daft Studios in Brussels, Belgium, mixed by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, and mastered by Magnus Lindberg at Vrtkl Audio in Stockholm, Sweden. Fantasia features the highlights “The Day of Execution,” the title track, and today’s offering, the soaring “A Storm of Wings”
 
Fantasia is now available for preorder on CD/2xLP/Digitally worldwide from Sub Pop. 2xLP preorders in North America through megamart.subpop.com and in the UK/EU from Mega Mart Europe will receive the limited Loser Edition on Mustard Yellow (North America) and Sparkle Starlight (UK/EU) colored vinyl. The limited Loser Editions will also be available at your local record store while supplies last.
 
SLIFT’s previously announced European tour schedule for the Spring and Summer of 2026 resumes Thursday, April 16th in Bourges, FR at Printemps du Bourges, and runs through Saturday, August 15th in Carhaix, FR at Motocultor Festival. New headlining dates for North America and Europe for 2026 will be announced soon.
 

Thu. Apr. 16 - Bourges, FR - Printemps du Bourges
Sat. Apr. 18 - Tilburg, NL - Roadburn Festival
Thu. May 07 - Copenhagen, DK - A Colossal Weekend Festival
Tue. May 26 - Bucharest, RO - Control Club
Wed. May 27 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Club Pave
Thu. May 28 - Thessaloniki, GR - Soul
Fri. May 29 - Athens, GR - Arch Club
Sat. May 30 -  Larnaca, CY - What The Fuzz Festival
Fri. Jun. 05 - Tampere, FI - Ankea Festival
Thu. Jun. 18 - Vannes, FR - Festival Echopark
Fri. Jun. 19 - Clisson, FR - Hellfest
Sat. Jun. 27 - Lärz, DE - Fusion Festival
Mon. Jun. 29 - Paris, FR - L’Olympia
Fri. Jul. 03 -  Hérouville-Saint-Clair, FR - Festival Beauregard
Sat. Aug. 08 - Josefov, FR - Brutal Assault Festival
Sat. Aug. 15 - Carhaix, FR - Motocultor Festival

 

More on SLIFT’s Fantasia:

In the technical sense, every previous album by the radiant and heavy French trio SLIFT has been a fantasia—a composite of genres and forms that allowed the band to improvise, to jam on themes until they seemed to spiral together into space. Their acclaimed third album, 2024’s Ilion, was a sci-fi story built with 10- to 13-minute exploratory escapades, often starting with doom metal or stoner rock before spinning freely into glorious instrumental oblivion. But, in a bit of intentional irony, SLIFT’s fourth album is actually called Fantasia. It’s their leanest and most direct record to date; taken together, its eight songs clock in at less than 50 minutes. It is also their most riveting album yet, a pointed saga about overcoming international upheaval delivered by a band bearing down, not wasting a single second in the process.
 
They wanted to write and render songs that recognized the turmoil of these days and to sing of a more hopeful vision, of a time when a reckoning arrives. SLIFT didn’t want to lose the message by playing too much. To wit, the longest song on Fantasia is the opening title track, a nine-minute preamble in which Jean Fossat screams of his desires for the world: rising above our pain, burying our dread, and finding, individually and collectively, “a fire for your soul.” The songs that follow aren’t lacking the complexity or intensity that have made SLIFT a rising, radical star in heavy music; it’s simply that they’ve found new ways to weave the complexities of their past inside every piece, like a tapestry that reveals a new layer every time you look. In doing so, they offer an affirming and urgent message: Together, we can still change the times in which we live.