West Yorkshire band The Lounge Society made an impressive introduction early this year with “Generation Game” and today follow it up with “Burn The Heather”. The new track was once again produced by Speedy Wunderground’s Dan Carey, but this song is all about The Lounge Society, with the band saying:
“Burn the Heather is a song deeply rooted in where we come from. The lyrics are our interpretation of some of the darker aspects of where we live, and our personal reaction to them. Musically, Burn the Heather is intended to be an adrenaline shot to the brain. We wanted this to be the second single all along. We don’t want to be just another post-punk band, and we knew Heather would keep people on their toes. Unlike a lot of our tracks, the guitars are quite minimal and the rhythm really carries it, and we think it works really well. We want to make people move.”
Although “Burn The Heather” starts with a light, Talking Heads-esque groove, there’s darkness lurking throughout the lyricism, referencing “Where flesh meets lead / And unchained souls are torn apart.” It feels like walking across Yorkshire’s famous rolling hills, just as the sun is setting and centuries of souls are ready to spring from the ground. The Lounge Society lean into this with some sonic adornments like ghostly cries calling across fields, stoking the fear – but not repressing the danceability. Just when you think you’ll escape unscathed, you’re grabbed by the throat and you emit a cry – and “Burn The Heather” takes a thrilling gear change into a post-punk battering ram, dark and dangerous, with luminous beings dancing all around, until they drag you down below in the song’s melting finale. “Burn The Heather” is a real experiential thrill, worth revisiting multiple times to pick up on all the lyrical and sonic details – and to get even more excited about The Lounge Society’s potential.
You can watch the video for “Burn The Heather”, directed and edited by Nick Farrimond, below.
“Burn The Heather” is out today via Speedy Wunderground. You can find The Lounge Society on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
They’ve also announced this tour for next year:
Sat April 3 – Fair Play Festival, Manchester [Tickets here]
Fri April 30 – Newcastle University SU, (supp. The Orielles) [Tickets here]
Sat May 1st – Stag & Dagger, Edinburgh, UK [Tickets here]
Wed May 12 – The Windmill, London, UK [Tickets here]
Sat May 15 – Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate [Tickets here]
Sun May 16 – Heartbreakers, Southampton [Tickets here]
Mon May 17 – Hare & Hounds 2, Birmingham (supp. bdrmm) [Tickets here]
Wed May 19 – Crofters Rights, Bristol [Tickets here]
Thu May 20 – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield [Tickets here]
Fri May 21 – Castle Hotel, Manchester [Tickets here]
Sat May 22 – A Slow Education Festival @The Crescent, York [Tickets here]
Fri July 2 – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge [Tickets here]
