Following the release of the ‘Groove It Out’ single late last year, LoneLady (aka Julie Campbell) can now announce her second full length album, Hinterland, released by Warp on 23 March, and the follow up to 2010’s Nerve Up.
You can listen to the new single from the album, Bunkerpop, here:
Hinterland (literally ‘the country behind’ in German) conjures impressions of decayed Manchester outskirts and reclusive inner landscapes obsessively throughout the record, as Campbell continues her fascination with the post-industrial ruinscape. At its core beats an uncomplicated drum machine rhythm and synthetic percussion that recalls fractured memories of minimal wave and early techno and dance, dynamically spliced through with Campbell’s intricate, choppy and propulsive guitar playing.
With longer, exploratory songs full of inventive twists and turns, the album expands upon the stark palette of its predecessor, 2010’s Nerve Up, into more colourful territories, with a funk influence emerging. As Campbell says, “It’s channeling Parliament / Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Rufus, Prince and Arthur Russell among others; a strange but nonetheless real meeting of funk and … well … me, from Audenshaw, Manchester”.
All underpinned by an urgent post-punk sensibility; as Campbell describes it, “An inescapably cement-coloured North of England psyche”.
Performing guitar, keyboards, cello, vocals; using drum machines, drum pads and more; Campbell recorded, mixed and produced the material for her new album in her home studio, Concrete Retreat. She then travelled to an industrial region of Michigan to complete the production with Bill Skibbe (Austra, The Kills, The Dead Weather) at Keyclub Recording Co, a treasure trove of classic synths, drum machines and a 70s Flickinger console that had one previous owner – Sly Stone.
“I found it a totally sympathetic environment to be in and found a shared aesthetic in Bill Skibbe; I knew he’d sensitively aid the finishing of the songs and not impose on or disrupt their character. We’d often dig out Youtube clips for the other to enjoy; these exchanges included Sharevari at The Scene, George Clinton’s Loopzilla, John Carpenter’s Assault On Precinct 13 and many more.”
Hinterland Track List:
01 Into The Cave 02 Bunkerpop 03 Hinterland 04 Groove It Out 05 (I Can See) Landscapes 06 Silvering 07 Flee! 08 Red Scrap 09 Mortar Remembers You
LIVE DATES:
FEBRUARY Tue 24 LONDON Electrowerkz Thu 26 MANCHESTER Soup Kitchen [Future Everything Festival]
APRIL Wed 08 NOTTINGHAM Bodega Social Club (Buy Tickets Here!) Fri 10 LONDON Oslo 350 Tue 14 BRIGHTON Haunt Wed 15 BRISTOL Louisiana
LoneLady’s 2010 debut, Nerve Up, garnered universal critical acclaim with enthusiastic supporters such as Paul Morley, the NME, Pitchfork and 6Music. Numerous live UK and European appearances included Latitude, Green Man and Pukkelpop then, in 2011, LoneLady headlined to a packed out audience at the Manchester International Festival.
“ … An awe-inducing debut … we should celebrate LoneLady as the arrival of a fresh and invigorating voice whose talent transcends time and space and influence …” [9/10 NME TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2010] “ … Stirring; exciting …” [PAUL MORLEY, THE GUARDIAN] “ … Striking …” [4/5 UNCUT]
By Luke Matthews
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