Half Formed Things have released February, the first in a planned trilogy of singles from their forthcoming debut studio album To Live in the Flicker.
February showcases a more dynamic aspect of the Edinburgh’s band’s trademark lush, harmony-driven sound, following their darkly suspenseful 2017 Half Formed Things non-album single Embers.
“The objective for this song was Colour of Spring era Talk Talk meets The Bangles’”, says drummer Stewart McLachlan , who also engineered and produced the album sessions. “February is, at its core, a pop song, but one that really drags you through the wilderness.
“February has always been detatched in the set, a burst of fury among the prettier tunes.” adds pianist/vocalist Morgan Hosking. “We were keen to emphasise that dichotomy and create a record that continually changes “scenery” as it hurtles forward.”This Half Formed Things song’s roots go back as far as 2001. “The original song was written as a coping mechanism for a past childhood trauma”, says guitarist/vocalist Matthew Bakewell.
“Overhauling and rewriting it with Half Formed Things, I realised that it was not about denying or ignoring the past, but about embracing it and ultimately gaining self-forgiveness. Sharing this experience with Nici, Morgan and Stewart has been more enriching and cathartic than I can express.”
“Now that the line-up has expanded we were excited to experiment with the new textural elements on record as well as on stage,” adds newest member, percussionist/vocalist Nici Hosking, who makes her recorded debut with the band on February. “It was the first track we laid down together as a band and felt like the perfect opportunity to dive into three-part vocal arrangement and layered percussion parts.”
After spending December and January recording the majority of their album, Half Formed Things will be performing a headline set at Edinburgh’s Mash House with special guest I Am Pluto on April 28th, with further tour dates and festival appearances TBA.
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