The Blackheart Orchestra Reveal Details Of Their New Album Hotel Utopia.
THE BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA
AWARD-WINNING MULTI-INSTRUMENTAL DUO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THEIR NEW ALBUM HOTEL UTOPIA
Today The Blackheart Orchestra release ‘The Tide’ video. The song is taken from their forthcoming album Hotel Utopia, released by Ceandar Records on 23 September.
The Blackheart Orchestra are Manchester based multi-instrumentalists Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington who take a wide range of influences from artists such as Sigur Ros, Bat For Lashes and Bjork. Together they combine contemporary rock with electronica, atmospherics and classical styling to create a unique brand of ethereal art-rock that is laden with pop hooks and poetry, raw emotions and philosophy. They are frequently compared to such diverse artists as Cocteau Twins, early Pink Floyd, Portishead and Kate Bush as well as contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
The band’s 2019 album Mesmeranto reached #16 in the UK Indie Chart, #18 in the UK Rock Chart, #4 in the USA’s Big Takeover Albums of the Year and was voted twice in the Rock Writers’ Top 20 Albums of the Year. The album received unanimous praise from the likes of Louder Than War, PROG magazine, RnR and No Depression as well as gaining them recognition and applause from musical peers including Genesis’ Steve Hackett and Motörhead’s Phil Campbell. They won Best British Duo. They were voted #4 Best New Band in the UK. Chrissy was recently voted #5 Best Female Vocalist in PROG Magazine’s Readers’ Poll, and their lockdown online concert series The Big Armchair Concerts was voted #10 in Most Important Rock Events of 2020.
Now, following a recent, successful 17-date UK tour, the band announce details of their new album. Hotel Utopia which finds them at their most mesmerising, haunting best.
Never afraid to take on the most daunting subjects, Mesmeranto was based on the concept of death, inspired by Mostyn’s mother who was nearing the end of her life. Now Hotel Utopia takes a musical look at the afterlife. The 13 songs discuss the one mystery that has troubled every human animal that ever lived. What happens after life? Whether we believe in God with a capital G, with a small g or believe in no g at all, Hotel Utopia is a collection 13 songs that discusses our fear of the mystery of the moment the light goes out. Or does it?
It’s a record that doesn’t attempt to answer that question but provokes the listener’s thoughts while holding their hand along a musical journey that meditates on our fears and fantasies of ‘heaven’ stopping off en route at murder, suicide, the end of the world and reincarnation as we all approach the unknown mystery of our own personal Hotel Utopia.
Opening song ‘The Tide’ deals with the end of a loved life, a song Chrissy wrote about her mother’s passing and the impact the subsequent grief had on her body and spirit. ‘Under The Headlights’ sees every life as part of something bigger and features a historic recording of the voice of 1960s British philosopher Alan Watts. Amplifying the thought, the video was shot just three feet from the edge of the 531ft high cliffs at Birling Gap, South Downs, sadly the world’s third most popular suicide location. ‘The Warning’ looks at the death of the earth, and is a melancholic call to arms to a species seemingly dedicated to self-destruction, whilst ‘Astronaut’ is a child’s naïve vision of life ahead ultimately replaced by reality.
Continuing with these themes, songs such as ‘Alive’, ‘A Dangerous Thing’ and ‘Dust’ examine the sanctity of life, love, the mystery of death and the pain of bereavement. Whilst ‘Casting Spells’ playfully asks is someone keeping a tally on our behaviour and is the afterlife a spin of the wheel based on our track record? ‘Atlantic’ illustrates a fantasy journey of reincarnation, an underwater dream state of the subconscious mind. Whilst the final track, ‘The Flood’, is about apocalyptic endings, yet rebirths and new beginnings. It is the perfect closing to extraordinary album – The Blackheart Orchestra’s most mesmerising and ambitious to date.
Based on Chrissy Mostyn’s track by track guide, available on request.
“We’re extremely excited to announce our three years in the making album Hotel Utopia. Hotel Utopia is 13 songs about the afterlife. It holds the listener’s hand along a musical journey that meditates on our fears and fantasies of ‘heaven’ stopping off en route at murder, suicide, the end of the world and reincarnation. Hotel Utopia is an audio movie for the listener’s mind, emotions and imagination. The album will be supported by an 18 date tour of the UK.”
Track list:
The Tide
Under The Headlights
Safe
The Warning
Astronaut
Alive
A Dangerous Thing
Casting Spells
Dust
Atlantic
Translucent
Raise Your Heart
The Flood
Hotel Utopia will be available on 23 September.
Buy Link: https://store.theblackheartorchestra.com
The album release will be immediately followed by a 18-date promotional UK tour:
Sept 1 OSWESTRY Hermon Chapel
Sept 4 HULL Adelphi
Sept 6 MASHAM Town Hall
Sept 9 LEEDS Seven Arts
Sept 11 EDINBURGH Bannermans
Sept 15 WIGAN Old Courts
Sept 17 OUNDLE Victoria Hall
Sept 18 LICHFIELD The Hub
Sept 22 SUTTON Sound Lounge
Sept 24 WINCHESTER The Railway
Sept 25 SOUTHAMPTON Hanger Farm Arts
Sept 29 PENZANCE Acorn Arts
Oct 1 CREDITON Arts Centre
Oct 8 LEDBURY Market Theatre
Oct 12 CHELMSFORD A Canteen
Oct 13 BRIGHTON Brunswick
Oct 16 POOLE Sound Cellar
Oct 20 BANBURY The Mill Arts Centre
Oct 23 SHEFFIELD Greystones