Nation Of Language share new single “Wounds of Love” and announce new album A Way Forward
Praise for Nation Of Language:
"'Across That Fine Line' brings a whole new level of confidence to their ‘80s-inspired sound.” - Consequence
“Nation Of Language have unearthed a vibrant space of their own.” - NME (4 Stars)
“The synth-pop group offers a remarkably assured debut, with 10 pristine pieces that eschew dramatics for concision.” - Pitchfork
“(Ian) Devaney dreamt up an early years greatest hits for an artist that never existed.” - Stereogum (Album Of The Week)
Brooklyn trio Nation Of Language returned last month with ‘Across That Fine Line’, announcing their new album A Way Forward to be released on 5th November 2021. Pre-order the album HERE. Today, they share new single ‘Wounds of Love’, a song about feeling directionless after an emotional breakup, with a DIY lyric video made by singer Ian Devaney himself.
Listen to ‘Wounds of Love’ HERE.
On the single Ian says, “'Wounds of Love' is a song about getting caught in a mental feedback loop when a relationship ends. It's an endless inner argument - wanting to move on defiantly, but feeling utterly lost about how to do it when the other person has informed so much about how you see yourself. For every bit of progress there's just as much retreating, and eventually it seems like this back-and-forth becomes the new root of your identity - still tied to the same person, just without them actually being there.”
He adds, “During its creation, the song was really born out of the main riff - I was experimenting with synth sounds and delay pedals, trying to find something that felt kind of like Man Machine era Kraftwerk, and this simple melody just flowed out. At first the urge was to go very robotic with it, but a laid-back groove fell into place and gave everything a really warm, spacey, stoned feeling, which felt like it amplified the emotional haze that the song deals with.”
A Way Forward is the follow up to Nation Of Language’s highly acclaimed debut album, Introduction, Presence, released in 2020 during the early stages of COVID’s merciless mayhem. Unable to promote the album in any traditional live sense, the record grew through a flurry of rave reviews and airplay from radio stations around the world, ultimately landing on year-end ‘Best of' lists from Rough Trade, Stereogum, Paste, Under The Radar, and NME.
With the pandemic putting so much on hold, Nation Of Language (Ian Devaney, with keyboardist Aidan Noell and bassist Michael Sue-Poi), decided to forge ahead and begin work on what would become A Way Forward. While much of the sounds on Introduction, Presence garnered comparisons to the synth-punk sound of the 80’s, with this new set of songs the band delved heavily into the Krautrock pioneers and electronic experimentalists of the 70’s for inspiration in the studio, stretching their boundaries in new and different ways. Production on the record was divided between Abe Seiferth (who worked on Introduction, Presence) and Nick Milhiser of Holy Ghost!
Due to perform at the sold out Reading and Leeds Festival this year, Nation Of Language announce a January 2022 tour of the UK and EU including dates in London, Manchester, Dublin, Glasgow, and Leeds.
Tickets are on sale tomorrow at 9am BST and available HERE.
Nation Of Language UK/EU Tour Dates:
27th Aug 2021 - Leeds Festival SOLD OUT
29th Aug 2021 - Reading Festival SOLD OUT
10th Jan 2022 - Cologne @ YUCA
11th Jan 2022 - Antwerp @ TRIX Bar
12th Jan 2022 - Amsterdam @ Paradisio
14th Jan 2022 - Hamburg @ Turmzimmer
15th Jan 2022 - Copenhagen@ Ideal Bar
16th Jan 2022 - Stockholm @ Obaren
17th Jan 2022 - Oslo @ Bla
19th Jan 2022 - Berlin @ Kantine am Berghain
20th Jan 2022 - Zurich, CH @ Kater
22nd Jan 2022 - Barcelona, ES @ Laut
23rd Jan 2022 - Madrid @ Sala El Sol
25th Jan 2022 - Paris @ Supersonic
27th Jan 2022 - Leeds @ Hyde Park Book Club
28th Jan 2022 - Glasgow @ Broadcast
29th Jan 2022 - Dublin @ The Grand Social
30th Jan 2022 - Manchester @ YES Basement
31st Jan 2022 - London @ Lafayette
A Way Forward out 5th November 2021
Tracklist:
Pre-order the album HERE.
01. In Manhattan
02. Across That Fine Line
03. Wounds Of Love
04. Miranda
05. The Grey Commute
06. This Fractured Mind
07. Former Self
08. Whatever You Want
09. A Word & A Wave
10. They’re Beckoning
Find Nation of Language online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram