Meet Modern Rituals. Today they release their debut EP, ‘Stranger Culture,’ however Already Heard is hosting the exclusive first play of it. Recorded across two studios with Mark Jasper of Sound Savers (Slowcoaches, Witching Waves) and Lewis Johns of the Ranch (Creeper, Muncie Girls and many others) ‘Stranger Culture’ is a sturdy, raw collection of post-punk delivered with urgency and subtle intenseness.
Since forming last summer from the ashes of The Long Haul, Modern Rituals have played alongside Tangled Hair, Terrible Love, The New Tusk and will be heading out on tour with Brunch this weekend.
Not only are we streaming ‘Stranger Culture’ in full, Harry Fanshawe from the band spoke to Already Heard to give a detailed account of the EP.
Lyrically, ‘Stranger Culture’ is the result of disillusionment, paranoia, nihilism and boredom. It’s a bedroom reflection on intense feelings which are often much more difficult to channel properly when they occur. On the other side, it’s also a light hearted affair. These songs are open and made for fun; I’m not trying to employ anything too intense and I’m not talking about being depressed. I also had a lot of fun making this record.
Scrump
I wrote this song a long time ago and would have dropped it but it sort of lingered around. It turned out to be a good one for layering with lots of extra parts, which was really fun to do in the studio. I also got to use a synth, which I never thought I’d do.
Pushing Teeth
I worked in an office for a year and a half and I’m never going back. This was when my body was literally morphing into my lethargy. Office work is bad for your health.
Roof Life
Another I thought I’d drop! I had a really good time recording the guitars in the end section for this. Overall it was just another that I felt differently about once it had been recorded.
White Bug
This about finding ways of motivating yourself to continue with something when you’re feeling like you’re at nil with it can be hard, but once you have a fresh set of self-made principles, stuff can be much easier. Overall it’s about trying to stop taking things seriously.
Pulpit
You know when you watch a band and their singer gets really dramatic? This is about cringing at that, sorry.
One-Eye Jimmy
This is about being extremely paranoid.
‘Stranger Culture’ by Modern Rituals is out now digitally and will be released on vinyl and cassette later this summer.
Modern Rituals links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
May (with Brunch)
27 The Wharf Chambers, Leeds
28 The Old England, Bristol
29 Fred’s Ale House, Manchester
30 JT Soar, Nottingham
31 Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton
June
04 DIY Space For London, London
Have a new video or song you’d like to premier on Already Heard? If so contact Sêan Reid to find out more.
