A New Nature
A New Nature is the third studio album by British alternative rock band Esben and the Witch, scheduled to be released on the 1 September 2014 through their own label Nostromo Records.
A New Nature | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 31 August 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2014;Electrical Audio (Chicago) | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, post rock, post-punk | |||
Length | 54:28 | |||
Label | Nostromo Records | |||
Producer | Steve Albini | |||
Esben and the Witch chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A New Nature | ||||
|
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[2] |
NME | (7/10)[3] |
TLOBF | (8.5/10)[4] |
AllMusic | (8/10)[5] |
Background
In early 2014, the band left Matador Records and made their own label Nostromo Records. They pledged on PledgeMusic, which is an online Direct-to-Fan music platform that facilitates musicians reaching out to their fanbase to pre-sell, market, and distribute music projects including recordings, music videos, and concerts. On PledgeMusic they put pre-orders for their third album up, in which some include a hand-made bonus EP called And New Life Blossoms From the Ruins, and the money went towards the recording costs.[6]
On April 7, 2014, they released an untitled split EP with Thought Forms, featuring two songs "No Dog" and "Butoh".[7] On April 7, they performed "No Dog" and two new songs "Dig Your Fingers In" and "Those Dreaful Hammers" on BBC Radio 6.[8] They began recording with Steve Albini in April 2014 at Electrical Audio studios in Chicago.[9][10] Their song "Strangers In a Sunless Valley" was featured on the third Audioscope Music For A Good Home compilation in May.[11]
They announced the album in June 2014, and have released the first single from the album, "Blood Teachings", on iTunes. The album was scheduled to be released on 1 September 2014.
Music
The Guardian compared lead single "Blood Teachings" to early PJ Harvey.[12] The Quietus said that ""Blood Teachings" is a good case in point, with its Swans-esque heaving repetition providing a soundbed over which Rachel Davies unfurls a mesmeric vocal, not dissimilar to former Albini collaborator PJ Harvey, building to a razing, fuzzed crescendo."[13]
The band said of the album:
"We wanted to create a record that had a level of purity to it. To strip away the layers and loops and see what lay beneath. To keep things naked, unadorned and raw. The three of us, in a room, making noise. We looked to create a more primal record, full of human emotion and sonic intensity. Drawing on themes of endurance, strength, determination and self-actualisation. Themes that have always inspired us but perhaps, only now, a few years down the line, a few years of touring under our belts, we feel we have the confidence and maturity to explore and shout about."[10]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Press Heavenwards!" | 10:16 |
2. | "Those Dreadful Hammers" | 3:34 |
3. | "Dig Your Fingers In" | 4:39 |
4. | "No Dog" | 6:01 |
5. | "The Jungle" | 14:32 |
6. | "Wooden Star" | 6:51 |
7. | "Blood Teachings" | 7:54 |
8. | "Bathed In Light" | 2:01 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Press Heavenwards!" | 10:16 |
2. | "Dig Your Fingers In" | 4:39 |
3. | "No Dog" | 6:01 |
4. | "The Jungle" | 14:32 |
5. | "Those Dreadful Hammers" | 3:34 |
6. | "Wooden Star" | 6:51 |
7. | "Blood Teachings" | 7:54 |
8. | "Bathed In Light" | 2:01 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 31 August 2014 | DD | Nostromo Records |
1 September 2014 | CD, LP |
References
- "Album Review". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- Bland, Benjamin (2014-09-01). "Album Review". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- Cooke, Robert (2014-08-31). "Album Review". NME.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- Day, Lawrence (2014-08-31). "Album Review". thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- Monger, James Christopher (2014-08-31). "Album Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
- "Esben and the Witch: New Album". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "Esben and the Witch: New Album". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "ESBENANDTHEWITCH on Twitter". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "ESBENANDTHEWITCH on Twitter". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "Esben And The Witch Confirm New Album". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "Music For A Good Home 3, by Audioscope". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- Richards, Sam (24 June 2014). "Julian Casablancas gets political and Gary Oldman has a rant – plus the rest of today's breaking pop culture news". Retrieved 5 October 2016 – via The Guardian.
- "The Quietus - News - Esben And The Witch Announce New Album". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "ESBENANDTHEWITCH on Twitter". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2014-06-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)