TV Priest have shared a new track called “All Thing”. Last week it was unofficially revealed that they have completed working on their second album, but this new offering comes as the b-side to the recent “Lifesize”, from Sub Pop’s Singles Club Vol. 6.
Vocalist Charlie Drinkwater says about the song: “‘All Thing’ is a subversion of the Anglo Saxon word for parliament or meeting (Althing or Thing). It asks questions about the power of groupthink and ideas of nationhood that have become static, non-inclusive and singular.”
Where “Lifesize” bolstered TV Priest’s sound with more prominent electronics, “All Thing” goes the opposite way, stripping it back to the sparest song we’ve heard from them yet – by some distance. Even though the energy is low, and Drinkwater’s growl is reduced to a melancholic whisper, TV Priest’s intensity remains intact thanks to his pointed words and the swelling unhappiness in the song’s atmosphere, conjured by fidgeting cymbal taps.
Although we expect “All Thing” to explode at any moment, it doesn’t – it remains in its wistful, quietly seething mode throughout, almost as if the fire in their bellies has gone out – but we know that surely can’t be true. We’ll have to wait for album two to hear them relight the fire, but “All Thing” stands apart as one where we can really appreciate Drinkwater’s scenic detail and the band’s subtle interplay.
Listen to “All Thing” below or on streaming platforms.
TV Priest are touring in support of Uppers, catch them here:
Tue. Oct. 19 – London, UK – Shacklewell Arms [Sold Out]
Thu. Oct. 21- Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hound
Fri. Oct. 22 – Blackpool, UK – Bootleg Social
Sat. Oct. 23 – Hull, UK – New Adelphi Club
Sun. Oct. 24 – Newcastle upon Tyne, UK – Head of Steam
Tue. Oct. 26 – Nottingham, UK – Bodega
Wed. Oct. 27 – Cardiff, Wales, UK – Clwb Ifor Bach (Upstairs room)
Thu. Oct. 28 – Bedford, UK – Bedford Esquires
Fri. Oct. 29 – Manchester, UK – YES (Basement Room) [Sold Out]
Sat. Oct. 30 – Leeds, UK – Belgrave Music Hall [Sold Out]
Sun. Oct. 31 – Sheffield, UK – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield City Centre
Tue. Nov. 02 – Bristol, UK – Rough Trade (Bristol) [Sold Out]
Wed. Nov. 03 – London, UK – Moth Club [Sold Out]
Thu. Nov. 04 – Southampton, UK – Heartbreakers
Sat. Nov. 06 – Brighton, UK – Mutations Festival
Sat. Nov. 13 – Glasgow, UK – Sirens Festival (Glasgow)
Sun. Nov. 14 – Edinburgh, UK – Sirens Festival (Edinburgh)
Wed. Nov. 17 – Lille, FR – L’Aeronef
Thu. Nov. 18 – Le Havre, FR – Le Tetris
Fri. Nov. 19 – Paris, FR – Pitchfork Music Festival
Sat. Nov. 20 – Nantes, FR – Stereolux
