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Animal Kingdom
Richard Sauberlich – Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Hamish Crombie – Bass
Geoff Lea – Drums
“..And if the looking it gets too much, well you can just tune out
And if the mirror reflects too much, well you can just tune out
And if the picture it gets too sharp, well you can just tune out
And if you ever regret your part, well you can just tune out”
- “The Art of Tuning Out”
Animal Kingdom, who formed when singer/guitarist/pianist Richard Sauberlich was introduced to bassist Hamish Crombie while at art school and were joined soon after by drummer Geoff Lea, found immediately that they had a common interest—to make compelling music that spoke with intent. The trio recorded their debut album, Signs and Wonders, in early 2009 in Seattle with producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, The Walkmen) and released the disc at the end of the year.
Although the band’s debut, which received great critical acclaim, was only released digitally in the U.S., iTunes named the album’s track “Tin Man” as their “Single of the Week” and proclaimed the band “Best New Alternative Act.” Animal Kingdom toured extensively around the release, trekking around the U.K. and Europe, but it is the group’s sophomore effort, The Looking Away, which will be released by Mom + Pop Records, that really introduces them overseas.
After touring on Signs and Wonders the group reconvened at a studio space in a rundown church in North London where they spent nearly a year writing and demoing over 30 songs. From those songs the musicians selected a collection of favorites to bring into the studio with David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything), a producer Animal Kingdom specifically wanted to work with for The Looking Away. The album was recorded over several sessions in Kosten’s new studio beginning in February of 2011 and was eventually finished that summer. The goal was to expand the group’s sound to embrace a wider sonic aesthetic.
“When we record we like to bend sounds rather than just record them straight.” Richard says.
“Rather than just fairly traditional guitars and drums with a mic in front of them. We wanted to play with the sounds and build atmospheres, which is why we wanted to work with David. To create a much more hybrid sounding record, but with strong songs at the core”
Those songs veer from the propulsive, euphoric rush of flagship single “Strange Attractor,” which Richard calls a “chemical love song,” to the hyper-colored anti-one percent protest-pop of “Get Away With It” and the pensive hush of “Straw Man,” a self-described “beautifully depressing song.” This juxtaposition of styles and tempos finds cohesion in the band’s ability to fuse infectious, kaleidoscopic indie rock with atmospheric melancholia, and in the lyrical depth that infuses the entire disc.
From the title to the album’s striking artwork to the lyrics, The Looking Away circles around the idea of purposeful disassociation and disengagement. And, if you listen closely, the album’s title and clues to its meaning can be found throughout several of its songs.
“The Looking Away is about a kind of selective inattention,” Richard explains. “A disconnect. It’s about averting your gaze. It’s about being aware of something while ignoring it. Deciding to tune something out because it could make you feel uncomfortable. It’s also about personal complicity and allowing yourself to be distracted and your attention diverted. It’s something we tried to represent with the artwork too. The figure is imagining this paradise, but he’s not really there; it’s a mirage.”
Animal Kingdom, who recently brought their soaring, sun-drenched landscapes and ethereal melodies to Lollapalooza, Outside Lands and two sold-out crowds in both Los Angeles and San Francisco on its debut U.S. run, has clearly determined that it’s better to do something than nothing, that it’s more important to create something substantial than to just create anything at all. All of which is apparent on The Looking Away.
“We’re really proud of The Looking Away,” Richard says. “We poured a lot of ourselves into it but mostly we’re just excited about the music getting out there and connecting with the people who hear it.”
ANIMAL KINGDOM ANNOUNCE SUMMER NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR
APPEARANCES AT LOLLAPALOOZA 2012 AND OUTSIDELANDS MUSIC AND
ARTS FESTIVAL CONFIRMED
PHYSICAL RELEASE OF SOPHOMORE ALBUM, THE LOOKING AWAY, IN STORES ON JULY 17 VIA BOOMBOX/MOM+POP
WATCH: “STRANGE ATTRACTOR” MUSIC VIDEO
Animal Kingdom is excited to announce its Summer North American headline tour in addition to their appearances at this year’s Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, IL, on Friday, August 3 and the Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA, on Saturday, August 11. The 16-date club headlining tour will be visiting major markets including New York City on Wednesday, July 25, Boston, MA, on Thursday, July 26 and Los Angeles, CA, on Tuesday, August 14. The band’s debut American run will extend through the end of August, culminating in a performance at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR, on Sunday, August 26.
The Looking Away, Animal Kingdom’s new album produced by David Kosten (Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything) is the North London trio’s lush and atmospheric sophomore release that follows its well-received debut album, Signs and Wonders, a body of work that had NME describing it as “achingly beautiful celestial indie” as well as stating the band “will have Sigur Ros quivering with envy.” The Looking Away is now available through iTunes HERE and will be released physically on July 17 through Boombox/Mom+Pop.
Animal Kingdom is Richard Sauberlich (Vocals/Guitar/Piano), Hamish Crombie (Bass) and Geoff Lea (Drums). The band’s 2009 debut album, Signs and Wonders, was recorded in Seattle with acclaimed producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes,The Shins), and as a result introduced people to the band’s unique world-view. The first single was the haunting “Chalk Stars,” a song that xfm’s John Kennedy made his “Record of the Year” and was described by Zane Lowe as a “stunning piece of music.” The second single, “Tin Man,” was an iTunes “Single of the Week” and iTunes U.S. named the band “Best New Alternative Act.”
The songs on The Looking Away veer from the glinting propulsion of flagship single “Strange Attractor,” the band’s first single to chart at Modern Rock radio and a track NYLON Magazine recently called “a whipped pop blend of atmospheric melodies and a heart-wrenching, high-flying chorus that only gets more thrilling as the song progresses” to the pensive hush of “Straw Man,” a self-described “beautifully depressing song.” This juxtaposition of styles and tempos finds cohesion both in the group’s ability to craft infectious, soaring indie rock numbers and in the lyrical meaning that infuses the entire disc. From the title to the album’s striking artwork to the lyrics, The Looking Away circles around the idea of purposeful disassociation, of how much easier it is to tune out than to tune in. And, if you listen closely, the album’s title can be found throughout several of its songs.
With the release of The Looking Away, Animal Kingdom is looking to build upon the foundation Signs and Wonders laid for them in the U.S. As shimmering as its predecessor, the new album is poised to bring additional attention to the band as well as their live show which is rarely seen in the U.S., a presence The Fly Magazine in the UK has described as “a resounding and cinematically cosmic experience.”
Animal Kingdom will be making the following North American appearances throughout July and August. Tour dates below.
JULY
24 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
25 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
26 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
30 – Albany, NY – Jullian’s
31 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
AUGUST
03 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
04 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock
05 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
07 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
08 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
11 – San Francisco, CA – Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival
12 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
14 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
16 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
17 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Room
ANIMAL KINGDOM RELEASE THE LOOKING AWAY PHYSICALLY VIA BOOMBOX/MOM+POP TODAY!
SUMMER NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AND APPEARANCES AT LOLLAPALOOZA AND OUTSIDELANDS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL CONFIRMED
WATCH: “STRANGE ATTRACTOR” MUSIC VIDEO
Animal Kingdom is excited to announce the physical release of its sophomore album, The Looking Away, today. Released by Boombox/Mom+Pop, The Looking Away is the North London trio’s lush and atmospheric new album produced by David Kosten (Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything). The new effort follows the band’s well-received debut album, Signs and Wonders, a body of work that led NME to describe it as “achingly beautiful celestial indie” as well as stating the band “will have Sigur Ros quivering with envy.” The Looking Away is now available in stores and online.
In addition to the physical release of the album, the band recently announced its Summer North American headline tour as well as their confirmed appearances at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL, on Friday, August 3 and the Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, CA, on Saturday, August 11. The 16-date club headlining tour will be visiting major markets including New York City on Wednesday, July 25, Boston, MA, on Thursday, July 26 and Los Angeles, CA, on Tuesday, August 14. The band’s debut American run will extend through the end of August, culminating in a performance at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR, on Sunday, August 26.
“…a collection of ethereal indie-pop.” – Interview Magazine
“Following the lead of M83’s Saturdays=Youth and Frankie Rose’s Interstellar, London’s Animal Kingdom is tapping into ’80s teen dramas for lyrical and sonic inspiration. “Strange Attractor” is flecked with moody synths, soft guitar hooks, and sparse percussion but the three-piece are building on their John Hughes-nostalgia with contemporary anxieties.” – MTV Hive
“The album’s first single “Strange Attractor” shows Animal Kingdom at their best with heart-wrenching pensive lyrics set to a blazing indie rock beat. It’s the perfect juxtaposition of heart and head and a welcome addition to an iPod filled with soundalike indie tracks.” – IFC
Animal Kingdom is Richard Sauberlich (Vocals/Guitar/Piano), Hamish Crombie (Bass) and Geoff Lea (Drums). The band’s 2009 debut album, Signs and Wonders, was recorded in Seattle with acclaimed producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes,The Shins), and as a result introduced people to the band’s unique world-view. The first single was the haunting “Chalk Stars,” a song that xfm’s John Kennedy made his “Record of the Year” and was described by Zane Lowe as a “stunning piece of music.” The second single, “Tin Man,” was an iTunes “Single of the Week” and iTunes U.S. named the band “Best New Alternative Act.”
The songs on The Looking Away veer from the glinting propulsion of flagship single “Strange Attractor,” the band’s first single to chart at Modern Rock radio, to the pensive hush of “Straw Man,” a self-described “beautifully depressing song.” This juxtaposition of styles and tempos finds cohesion both in the group’s ability to craft infectious, soaring indie rock numbers and in the lyrical meaning that infuses the entire disc. From the title to the album’s striking artwork to the lyrics, The Looking Away circles around the idea of purposeful disassociation, of how much easier it is to tune out than to tune in. And, if you listen closely, the album’s title can be found throughout several of its songs.
With the release of The Looking Away, Animal Kingdom is looking to build upon the foundation Signs and Wonders laid for them in the U.S. As shimmering as its predecessor, the new album is poised to bring additional attention to the band as well as their live show which is rarely seen in the U.S., a presence The Fly Magazine in the UK has described as “a resounding and cinematically cosmic experience.”
Animal Kingdom will be making the following North American appearances throughout July and August. Tour dates below.
JULY
24 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
25 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
26 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
30 – Albany, NY – Jullian’s
31 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
AUGUST
03 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
04 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock
05 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
07 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
08 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
11 – San Francisco, CA – Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival
12 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
14 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
16 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
17 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Room
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'The Looking Away' Album Artwork
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L to R: Hamish Crombie, Richard Sauberlich, Geoff Lea
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L to R: Hamish Crombie, Richard Sauberlich, Geoff Lea