C Duncan releases album title-track ‘Health’ (FatCat Records)
C DUNCAN RELEASES ALBUM TITLE-TRACK ‘HEALTH’
THE FULL ALBUM IS OUT MARCH 29TH VIA FATCAT RECORDS
‘Health’
Set for release via FatCat Records on March 29th, C Duncan’s highly anticipated third album sees the Scottish multi-instrumentalist ditch his bedroom studio and work with other producers, engineers and musicians for the first time. Warm and harmonically rich, Duncan delightfully juxtaposes the vibrant and wholesome aesthetic of the album with an often-darker lyrical undertone, pushing himself to refine and explore new ways of writing. As the sole protagonist of his self-carved niche, ‘Health’ sees Duncan evolve and expand its parameters in mesmerising fashion.
The album’s first single ‘Impossible’ was released last month, it’s rhythmic art-funk created using strings and oddball psychedelic sounds. Next up, the album’s title-track documents the end of a previous relationship, it’s syncopated piano rhythm and brooding vocal harmonies reminiscent of the ‘The Midnight Sun’s’ soothing aural beauty. Duncan had this to say on it: “The track is about the end of a previous relationship. It was intense but I couldn’t hold onto it, and we started to drift apart. This had a huge impact on both our mental health and the only way to remedy this was to go our separate ways. It was an extremely painful breakup as up until then we shared everything, but one that was necessary to get us both back on track.”
Following the Mercury nominated debut ‘Architect’ (2015,) an it’s impressive follow up ‘The Midnight Sun’ (2016,) ‘Health’s’ soaring tapestries achieve what Duncan set out to. “With album 3 I wanted to take a more direct approach, adding even more layers but thematically and lyrically laid bare. Having someone else to bounce production ideas off was really eye-opening for me. In the past I had been very controlling about how everything would sound but ‘Health’ really showed me the benefit of working with others and made the whole process much less isolating,” he explains. Packed with fresh ideas and buzzing with invention, ‘Health’ combines syncopated art-pop piano rhythms with breezy, undulating heartbreak ballads executed with acute precision. As always Duncan has contributed all the artwork surrounding the release, and the colourful and natural aesthetic is reflected in the instrumentation and lyrics.
UK Tour Dates
Friday 15th March – SAMA’s Takeover, Paisley
Friday 19th April – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (tickets)
Thursday 25th April – The Cluny, Newcastle (tickets)
Friday 26th April – Band on the Wall, Manchester (tickets)
Saturday 27th April – Castle & Falcon, Birmingham (tickets)
Monday 29th April – Thekla, Bristol (tickets)
Tuesday 30th April – Komedia, Brighton (tickets)
Thursday 2nd May – Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (tickets)
Friday 3rd May – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (tickets)
Saturday 4th May – Live at Leeds Festival, Leeds
Sunday 5th May – Handmade Festival, Leicester
Tuesday 7th May – The Bullingdon, Oxford (tickets)
Wednesday 8th May – Scala, London (tickets)
Friday 10th May – Summerhall Arts Centre, Edinburgh (tickets)
Saturday 11th May – Maryhill Community Centre Hall, Glasgow (tickets)