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Trees Up North release December single, “Underwater”

Underwater

Norway’s Trees Up North return with their third single release, with “Underwater” dropping December 4th. Trees Up North writes:

“Keeping your breath under water for a long time is an exercise few of us master. The desperate but exciting feeling you get when you realize that the air in the lungs is about to run out, and you have to rise to the surface. Each time surprised at how different these two worlds are experienced. Always above or below the surface. Safe on land, one immediately longs to return to the dark, peaceful depths where, only a moment ago, one struggled to survive.”

UNDERWATER is Trees Up North’s third song taken from his upcoming debut album with expected release in January 2021. His ability to combine the beautiful with the dark comes into its own in this monumental song.

What is the song trying to describe for the listener? Perhaps an emotional balancing act you experience in the intimate meeting with someone you feel a strong connection with. The feeling of being able to live and love and breathe freely. The longing to dive into the dark lonely silence where one fights for one’s own life.

Or is it the opposite?

It has been a hard year. European Phonographic is proud to release this moving song, that somehow makes for an adequate recapitulation for 2020. Top o’ the season to you.

Follow Trees Up North and be the first to listen: https://lnk.to/tupuw

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Lusitanian Ghosts issue a passionate political statement with their latest single ‘For the Wicked’, out 13th November 2020

Lusitanian Ghosts return with their latest single ‘For The Wicked’, following the recent release of uplifting ode to life and love ‘All the Sounds’. The international collective is led by singer-songwriter and producer Neil Leyton and Swedish guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist Micke Ghost, with a cast of musical associates, including João Sousa, Janne Olsson, Vasco Ribeiro Casais (aka OMIRI) and Abel Beja of Primitive Reason.

This time Lusitanian Ghosts switch gears, moving in a more wistful direction while still making innovative use of their trademark Portuguese chordophone instruments. ‘For The Wicked’ is an ardent political address that speaks to a lost and apathetic society, accompanied by Lusitanian Ghosts’ masterful backdrop of ancient strings: the viola Amarantina, viola Braguesa, viola Campaniça (on loan from O Gajo) and viola Terceira.

It is a melodically vivid and passionate reckoning of those with self-righteous beliefs that sanctimoniously disregard the welfare of humanity, believing only in their own worth. It’s tinged with hostility and resentment, while also providing a strangely celebratory sense of melancholia as the track builds gradually to its anthemic finale. 

Speaking of the single’s focal point, Neil Leyton says; “I shouldn’t have to spell it out, but like the Manics’ “Design for Life”, I am not singing the chorus in my own voice but rather I’m taking on the role of those high-and-mighty power-hungry populists, the ruling elites or even religious zealots who believe bad things will never happen to them because they’re closer to god – or in some cases just lawyers, money or power”.

Lilting yet sharp in its lyricism, the track switches seamlessly from a repetitive staccato to a euphoric flood of sound, drawing out the song’s themes and commentary. As Neil sums up, “This one is an open critique against religious or political extremism, populism, or any other kind of anti-humanist behaviour. To the Wicked we say: good riddance!” 

‘For The Wicked’ is out on 13th November 2020 via European Phonographic: lnk.to/FortheWicked

For all media enquiries contact
Anastasia Connor (UK) – anastasia@noiseunit.co
Jeroen Siebens (European radio) – jeroen@radioplugging.eu