Melbourne lads Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have just dropped news of their forthcoming album, Hope Downs – as well as their next single ‘Talking Straight’ AND a hypnotic new video clip to boot.
Hot on the heels of their sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne last weekend, and just ahead of their run of North American and European festival slots – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have barely stopped for a breath before announcing the release of their upcoming album Hope Downs.
Following on from their 2017 EP The French Press, the boys rang kicked off ’18 with summery indie rock offering ‘Mainland’. The catchy track earned itself a place on triple j’s high rotation, and garnered the band attention from the likes of Stereogum, Pitchfork and DIY Mag. Their latest single ‘Talking Straight’ comes of the same ilk; melodic guitars and a steady rhythm driving home a head-bopping chorus. If ‘Mainland’ was stuck in my head for a good week, then I’m actually concerned ‘Talking Straight’ will be on mental loop for a month!
‘Talking Straight’ was recorded in a house in the middle of the northern NSW bushland. According to singer/songwriter/guitarist Joe White, the track was born when,
‘”… I heard someone talking about the possibility of us, humans, being alone in the universe, and how sad that would be. The idea in this song is that we might be lonely, but we could be lonely together.”
Similarly, the album Hope Downs (named after the open cut mine in the middle of Aus) somewhat reflects upon the inherent chaos of the world throughout 2017 (in which the majority of the album was penned). Band member and songwriter, Tom Russo explains,
“We were feeling like we were in a moment where the sands were shifting and the world was getting a lot weirder. There was a general sense that things were coming apart at the seams and people around us were too.”
Whether or not my double hit of caffeine was yet to leak into the ol’ bloodstream, when IÂ pressed play on the ‘Talking Straight’ clip this morning I was transported to a state of hypnosis. I mean, it could also have been the flashing montage of coloured lights and dazzling disco balls shimmering across my screen? Although a handful of views later, and that double shot of Sonoma house blend coursing through my veins I’m happy to say that the vid still has me transfixed, if not seriously pondering which lucky duck inherited that impressive collection of disco balls. Watch it for yourself, below!
If by some sheer stroke of luck you’re heading to Coachella this weekend (or the next, I hate you either way), be sure to tick Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever off your gig guide! No doubt the boys will be sneaking a few tracks off their forthcoming album into the set.
Catch the video clip for ‘Talking Straight’ below.Â
Hope Downs will be in our hot little laps June 15th, but get ahead of the masses and preorder your copy now!
