Out today (Sept 27th) via HAND IN HIVE (T.V. Priest, Blackaby, Wyldest)
Nottingham indie newbies Divorce announce debut EP ‘Get Mean’, arriving December 2nd and share eccentric new effort ‘Checking Out’, out today (September 27th) via tastemaker London label Hand In Hive (TV Priest, Wyldest, Blackaby).
Heralding the next stage in the group’s development after explosive alt-country debut ‘Services’ and pop-infused follow-up ‘Pretty’, ‘Checking Out’ is a murder ballad, and taps into songwriting duo Tiger Cohen-Towell and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow’s willingness to tackle life experiences in the form of absurd subjects and cutting lyricism.
Discussing the origins of their track, Cohen-Towell explained: “The track was written when a group of musician’s friends and I did a songwriting exercise, the challenge being to write five songs in five days. I think it was maybe the 4th day of the process and I wanted to write something that was as far away from myself as possible, I was tired of my own personal narratives.
I’ve always loved dramatic country and western ballads and a major inspiration for the track was country-singer Marty Robbins, who writes the most intense ‘gunfighter ballads’, which are bordering on slap-stick in their incessant violence and all-American heroism. I wanted to flip that on its head by having a female narrator who feels justified in her heinous act because those gunfighter ballads make you root for the underdog anti-hero, even if they are behaving completely irrationally — that’s a running theme in country music I think. ‘Checking Out’ is satirical and humorous, whilst getting into the head of a person who has been pushed too far and had enough of mistreatment in a relationship (although I don't condone murder!)”
Citing a wide range of influences such as LCD Soundsystem, Mitski, Big Thief and Wilco, as well as more off-beat choices including Americana band, The Felice Brothers, the band have already attracted significant press acclaim (DIY, So Young, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, The Independent, Rough Trade) in their short time together, not to mention fervent support at radio from BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq.
From their very first show supporting label-mates TV Priest, to sold-out hometown headline shows, and further slots alongside Jemima Coulter, A.O. Gerber and Wyldest, the group are certainly making a name for themselves on the live circuit, becoming a focal point of the Nottingham music scene and beyond.
With several festival appearances also ticked off over the summer season, the group will soon be hitting the road once again for a mammoth UK tour in celebration of their newest reveal, with further material on its way in the months to come.
‘Checking Out’ - the third single from Divorce - is out now via Hand In Hive.
Divorce are Tiger Cohen-Towell (Vocals, Bass), Felix Mackenzie-Barrow (Vocals, Electric Guitar), Adam Peter Smith (Electric Guitar) and Kasper Sandstrøm (Drums).
Live Dates
4th Oct - Polar Bear, Hull
5th Oct - Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
6th Oct - Hare & Hounds 2, Birmingham
7th Oct - The Shooting Gallery @ Zerox, Newcastle
8th Oct - Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
9th Oct - Broadcast, Glasgow
11th Oct - Hope & Ruin, Brighton
12th Oct - Sebright Arms, London
13th Oct - The Loft, Portsmouth
15th Oct - The Crofters Rights, Bristol
21st-22nd - Left Of The Dial, Rotterdam
28th Oct - The Bodega, Nottingham
