Scottish post punk outfit The Twilight Sad — currently, vocalist James Graham and multi-instrumentalist Andy MacFarlane — just released their long-awaited sixth album an first in seven years, It’s The Long Goodbye today through through Rock Action Records.
The origins of the album’s material can be traced back to 2016: Graham and McFarlane returned from the giddy “pinch yourself” high of a tour with The Cure to learn that Graham’s mother had been diagnosed with early onset frontotemporal dementia.
Roughly 80% of the album was written while Graham wrestled with the contrasts between the pure joys of his life — marriage, parenthood, a successful career — and the bitter cruelty of his mother’s decline, followed by her death.
Over the course of the next seven years, the album’s material was further developed with the London-based MacFarlane stockpiling musical ideas during COVID-19 lockdown, while exchanging words and sounds with Graham. The Cure’s Robert Smith, now a longtime close friend of the duo, provided invaluable input on the album’s demos and contributed guitar on “Waiting For The Phone Call,” mellotron on “Dead Flowers,” and six-string bass on “Back To Fourteen.”
“Then we had to piece together a band,” Graham says, now that the band is primarily centered on him and MacFarlane. Sometimes Arab Strap members David Jeans and Mogwai touring member Alex Mackay were recruited to play drums and bass respectively, with the album produced and recorded by the band’s MacFalane and addition production from Andy Savours at Willesden, UK-based Battery Studios, a location rich in The Cure history.
The end result may arguably be the most personal yet relatable album to date from a band whose portraits of bruised and battered humanity have helped to forge close ties with their audience. “In the past, I’ve used a lot of metaphors within my lyrics,” Graham says, “With this, there’s not as much. The record is heavily influenced by my mental health, grief and loss, and the need to be strong in positions where you’re not feeling it. It’s a very human story, I think – this is just my version of it. I feel that everybody goes through something like this. Everybody loses somebody. Everybody questions life.”
Graham adds, “To know that I’m saying things that connect with other people, that’s such a powerful thing. I want to be a relatable person that talks about things that can happen and give an opportunity for people to go, well you’re not alone. I want people to be able to listen to this record and hear that it comes from a place of raw emotion. The album is an opportunity to share my experience and move forward with my life.”
The album includes “Waiting For The Phone Call” featuring The Cure‘s Robert Smith, “Destined To Lose,” “Attempt A Crash Landing — Theme,” and the album’s fourth and latest single “Chest Wound to the Chest.”
“Chest Wound to the Chest” may arguably be the most Brit Pop-like song on the entire album. Sonically bringing Starsailor and Travis to mind (for me, least), the new single is anchored around the bittersweet longing for a dear one, who is no longer around.
The Twilight Sad will be embarking on a series of headlining European Union and UK tour dates throughout April and early May. They’ll be opening for The Cure in July and August. Check out the tour dates below.
THE TWILIGHT SAD TOUR DATES
HEADLINE SHOWS:
April 12 – Italy, Milan – Legend Club
April 14 – Switzerland, Zurich, Bogen F
April 15 – Germany, Munich, Ampere
April 16 – Germany, Berlin, Gretchen
April 18 – Denmark, Copenhagen, Loppen
April 19 – Norway, Oslo, Parkteateret
April 20 – Sweden, Stockholm, Slaktkyrkan
April 22 – Germany, Hamburg, Grünspan
April 23 – Netherlands, Utrecht, Tivolivredenburg Pandora Hall
April 25 – Germany, Cologne, Gebäude 9
April 26 – Belgium, Brussels, Rotonde – Botanique
April 27 – France, Paris, Le Trabendo
April 29 – UK, Bristol, Electric Bristol
April 30 – UK, London, Roundhouse
May 2 – UK, Manchester, New Century Hall
May 3 – UK, Newcastle upon Tyne, Boiler Shop
May 5 – Scotland, Glasgow, Barrowlands
May 6 – Scotland, Glasgow, Barrowlands
May 9 – Ireland, Dublin, Button Factory
July 24-26 – UK, Deer Shed Festival
Live Dates With The Cure + Festival Appearances
May 24 Derbyshire – Bearded Theory
June 14 Firenze, Italy – Visarno Arena
June 21 Isle Of Wight – Isle Of Wight Festival
June 24 Cardiff – Blackweir Fields
June 26 Dublin – Marley Park
June 28 Belfast – Belsonic
July 8 Slovakia – Pohoda Festival
July 10 Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide
July 11 Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide
July 12 Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide
July 24 – 26 Topcliffe, UK – Deer Shed Festival
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