Blue Bendy release their first new music of the year
Photo credit – James Ogram – click here for hi-res
“An eclectic mix of art rock and avant pop. There are no boundaries as they move forward” – The Guardian
“Towering art-rock sextet with a wickedly charismatic frontman” – NME
“A hypnotic mesh of thrashing guitars and whimsical Stereolab-esque pop” – Loud and Quiet
“They channel modern art rock in a way that’s seamless and utterly engaging.” – Line of Best Fit
Following on from their 2022 debut EP Motorbike, Blue Bendy emphatically return with new single ‘Cloudy’ which premiered on Fader today. Along with what is probably their most ambitious yet accomplished track to date, the band share a music video and offer brief words on a debut album.
Like a chain reaction of explosions, ‘Cloudy’ bursts into life with a fevered building of piano, gruitars, drums and bass. As per their mercurial, art-rock MO, the band pivot from blisteringly loud to a hushed and gentle quiet, sequestering the listener away into a nook of acoustic guitars and pianos. Built as a song of two halves, vocalist Arthur Nolan croons wry yet sincere observations during a climactic musical swell, with the wave eventually breaking upon an unequivocally satisfying ending, with the band giving it their all.
On new single ‘Cloudy’ the band say:
“We’ve written a song to drive to. A song to express a run in with a monkey’s Instagram account. A song to tackle the thorny subject of purity dying and biting addiction. There’s clucking hens and audiobooks. Grand designs. Alarming genies. But amongst the seemingly sprawling subject matter of what is always a live favourite, the thing which takes precedence is us just trying to make you proud.”
2022 saw Blue Bendy release their acclaimed debut EP Motorbike in February, following it with a sell-out hometown release show at London’s Peckham Audio. The band spent the year playing over 50 live dates, including a full UK tour with Canadian band Cola and slots at a slew of UK Festivals, including Green Man. Their performance at the latter being described as “Perhaps the most beguiling set of the weekend” by So Young Magazine. With new single ‘Cloudy’ kicking off a very exciting 2023 for Blue Bendy, the band are already on the bill for End of the Road festival this summer, as well as being touted as one of 7 artists to watch in 2023 by The Guardian. The band play a special, one off release show with friends at the Brixton Windmill on the 17 April.
Continuing their studio partnership with long-time collaborators Margo Broom and Nathan Ridley at their North London recording studio Hermitage Works, Blue Bendy offer up brief words on what else is to come:
“Without being able to give too much away – we’re putting the very final touches on 10 tracks we’re really excited about. Cloudy was the first written and favourite child, but now it’s got 9 equally loved siblings.”
‘Cloudy’ is out now via Practise Music.
Blue Bendy Live Dates
April 17 – The Windmill – Brixton
June 9/10 – Brighten The Corners Festival – Ipswich
Aug 31/Sep 3 – End Of The Road Festival – Dorset/Wiltshire
