Back after 19 years, indie-experimentalists Departure Lounge precede their fourth album with new single, ‘Mercury In Retrograde’, out now on Violette Records.
The track is from the band’s upcoming album, their first in that same length of time, ‘Transmeridian’, which is set for release in March next year.
You can stream ‘Mercury In Retrograde’ here.
Departure Lounge hinted at a permanent reformation with two, rare London live shows in Autumn 2019 and now, with a series of digital reissues behind them, their new single, ‘Mercury In Retrograde’ sees the light on Violette Records, and sets both feet firmly in the future, whilst echoing the past as a well-aired live favourite.
Departure Lounge’s upcoming 13 track album, ‘Transmeridian’, is set for release on vinyl and digital formats on Fri 26 March 2021. Made up of the original line up of Tim Keegan (vocals/guitar), Jake Kyle (bass/guitar/drums), Chris Anderson (lead guitars/keyboards) and Lindsay Jamieson (drums/keyboards), the majority of the album was gathered up in a fertile 24-hour session at Middle Farm Studios, Devon amidst the headrush immediately following their reunion live shows.
Updating the semi-acoustic-electronica sound of the Noughties, layering gossamer-touch guitars, brush-stroke drums and a cute Casio CZ101 synth line, Mercury In Retrograde references the reputed chaos that rains on humankind whenever the closest planet to the sun appears to fly backwards in relation Earth. A phenomenon that happens up to four times every year, this period of supposed confusion and communication blackout causes romantic strain for the protagonist in Departure Lounge’s track.
Tim Keegan says of the single:
“It’s the only complete song we already had when we reunited. It had been a live staple in our first operative period around the turn of the century, but slipped through the net when it came to recording. At the reunion gigs, several people said it had always been their favourite and it still sounded fresh so we decided to record it and I’m really pleased we did.”
Departure Lounge announced their return direct to fans in October with the ‘leak’ of instrumental track ‘Al Aire Libre‘, giving a fleeting insight into the relaxed, yet intensely focused sessions that finally brought the band together as a recording quartet. Prior to the reveal of new music, the last fans heard from the band was the December 2018 release of their chime-laden, pro-humbug ‘festive’ song, ‘Christmas Downer‘.
Violette Records releases Departure Lounge’s ‘Transmeridian’, having originally been formed by Michael Head (Shack, The Pale Fountains) and Matt Lockett as a platform for Head’s work, developing into a respected independent label as well as multi-disciplinary event organisers, drawing in outsiders working in music, literature, art and design. The label continues to host live events whenever possible and initiated an ELP (halfway between and EP and an LP) vinyl series, putting out acclaimed releases by The Pistachio Kid and Studio Electrophonique.
For further release information visit Violette Records‘ website.
