| On the 10th anniversary of their first ever single (The Last of the Melting Snow), THE LEISURE SOCIETY today (30th January 2019) release a new single entitled God Has Taken a Vacation, along with news of their fifth album, Arrivals & Departures.
Speaking of the release of the new single, their highly-lauded songwriter Nick Hemming said: “I started writing the song about my break up, but world events started finding their way in too. Division, borders, a loss of hope. There were a lot of shared themes!”
During the promotion of the band’s previous LP, The Fine Art of Hanging On, Nick and their flautist Helen Whitaker went through a long process of separation, ultimately resulting in Nick moving out of their Brighton home.
This displacement set the tone for the next 18 months, as Nick moved from one temporary accommodation to the next, writing and recording demos constantly as he came to terms with the break up – which would eventually become the foundation of their upcoming fifth full length album, Arrivals & Departures.
Due for release on April 12th, the album was recorded in rented and borrowed houses in the Peak District, the Cotswolds and a medieval mansion in Richelieu, France. The band also snuck into Union Chapel in Islington late at night to capture strings and choral sections for the record, which features the likes of Brian Eno and poet Liz Berry, and was mixed by Gareth Jones (known for his work with Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave, and These New Puritans).
The band tour the UK in May:
Thursday 16th May – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Friday 17th May – Glasgow, The Blue Arrow
Saturday 18th May – Manchester, Academy 3
Sunday 19th May – Bristol, The Fleece
Tuesday 21st May – Norwich, Arts Centre
Wednesday 22nd May – Brighton, Komedia
Thursday 23rd May – Nottingham, Glee Club
Saturday 25th May – London, Union Chapel
For more information and updates, keep up with the band below or contact rob@sonicpr.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theleisuresociety
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leisuresociety
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leisuresociety
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More about The Leisure Society, and Arrivals & Departures
Nick Hemming grew up in Burton-on-Trent. The Leisure Society was born when Nick decided to share a London flat with fellow Burton-on-Trent exile and multi-instrumentalist / producer, Christian Hardy.
The years following that initial meet have seen the band release 4 critically acclaimed albums. Touring extensively throughout, the The Leisure Society have graced the stage at two Meltdown Festivals (firstly, Richard Thompson’s, then Ray Davies’). They packed a tent at Glastonbury. Brian Eno declared himself a fan, and the band have been nominated for two Ivor Novello awards. The band also provided the decisive musical ending to their pal Paddy Considine’s BAFTA winning directorial debut Tyrannosaur and were invited to perform live with The Heritage Orchestra at a sold out Barbican.
In 2016, the band was derailed by the break-up of Nick and long-term partner, flautist Helen Whitaker. Retreating to their roots, Nick and Christian left the UK to tour Europe as a duo, then another 3 weeks touring Italy with violinist Mike Siddell in tow. New songs emerged throughout this period and developed in intimate venues, hotel rooms and moonlit courtyards. In 2017, the band’s album delivery deadline loomed, but rather than rush out a new record, they decided to dedicate another 12 months perfecting it in studios and rented houses across the UK and France. What results is certainly their most ambitious and diverse record to date, charting the journey from heartbreak, to bitterness, to hope, in 57 lavish minutes. |
