Pre-order, to be released 8th February 2019.
Lau return with their new album, Midnight and Closedown, produced by John Parish, released February 8th 2019 on Reveal Records.Already acknowledged as thrilling live performers and folk music pioneers, Lau arrive at a new creative peak with Midnight and Closedown. The band's 12-year recording career is resplendent with unexpected collaborations, accolades and innovative ideas. The sound of Lau in 2019 is perhaps closer to late period Beatles than to the traditional tunes and ballads of their 2007 debut Lightweights and Gentlemen. And yet the new album's closing track 'Riad' marks a full circle, stripping the lineup back to bare acoustic instruments. Midnight and Closedown is Lau's first new music since 2015's The Bell That Never Rang (***** The Guardian; The Herald's Album of The Year). Producer John Parish, widely celebrated for his recordings and collaborations with P.J Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse, This Is The Kit, Aldous Harding, Rokia Traore, M. Ward, Giant Sand and many more, has captured the essence of Lau's songwriting: tender, bewitching and mournful, uplifting, experimental and political. These are new sounds still rooted in the traditional music that brought together the UK's three finest folk artists. 'Lau. Cool band. Don't sound like anybody else. I could describe the instrumentation : treated fiddle, guitar and rich baritone voice, an electronic ship in a bottle. A beautiful set of songs and instrumentals. In touch with their roots but not bound by them'. (John Parish, October 2018) Lau have pushed at the boundaries of modern folk music with each successive release, curation and concert tour. And now comes this bold, progressive new statement. Reading between the lines here - the enigmatic album title, the quotes from the band members below - could suggest that the new album is Lau's swansong. But Midnight and Closedown, Lau's finest artistic statement to date, could equally prove to be the opening of a brave new chapter. 'Lau are a remarkable band - the most musically adventurous trio in British folk - exquisite and hypnotic, musicianship at its best - The UK's best live band" 9733; 9733; 9733; 9733; 9733; 5/5 (THE GUARDIAN) 'Leagues ahead of the crowd - worthy of a David Lynch movie expansive sonic landscapes - it's time to ring some changes - may frighten a few horses' (fROOTS) 'This is music of such stunning creativity - one of most thrilling live bands, now one of most thrilling studio bands as well - what phrase, what note can possibly be coming next? ' (SUNDAY HERALD) 'Lau are cutting edge renegades, super-charged with confident, free-thinking music that will enthrall' (FOLKRADIO.CO.UK) Instrumental virtuosity blends easily with tasteful electronics 9733; 9733; 9733; 9733; Albums of The Year (MOJO) 'For alternative music lovers as much as folk fans, brimming over with intoxicating, mesmerising music' (BBC Music) 'Quite unlike anything else out there' (Acoustic Magazine) Four time winners 699;Best Group 700; at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Lau Midnight and Closedown concert tour 2018/2019 Tickets http://www.lau-music.co.uk/gigs/ 2018 November 24th London Union Chapel November 25th Canterbury Gulbenkian Theatre November 26th Hindhead Grayshott Folk Club November 27th Shoreham-by-sea Ropetackle Arts Centre November 29th Sheffield Abbeydale Picture House November 30th Saffron Walden Saffron Hall December 1st Skegness Great British Folk Festival December 5th Gateshead Sage 2019 February 15th Derby Guildhall Theatre February 16th Lancaster Grand Theatre February 17th Frome Somerset Cheese and Grain February 19th Norwich Arts Centre February 20th Birmingham Glee Club February 21st Bristol St George's February 22nd Cardiff Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Theatre February 23rd Portsmouth The Wedgewood Rooms February 24th Milton Keynes The Stables February 26th Leeds City Varieties Music Hall February 27th Bury The Met
