With 2011's Blue Songs running the gamut from full-blown disco and jacking house to the more experimental, Hercules & Love Affair’s new album ‘The Feast Of The Broken Heart’ sees another musical reinvention from ringmaster Andy Butler - delivered by an impeccable new line up.
The ever-revolving collective led house music’s resurgence with club anthem ‘Blind’ in 2008 (Pitchfork’s record of the year), and 2014’s line up is another roll call of exceptionally talented vocalists. BRITS nominee John Grant’s ability for translating hardship into elegance is writ large on ‘I Try To Talk To You’ and ‘Liberty’; Rouge Mary, whose deep, spiritual voice is hewn from a gospel education; Belgian singer Gustaph whose counter tenor takes lead on the single ‘Do You Feel The Same?’ and smoky voiced virtuoso Krystle Warren, who was introduced to Butler by Grant, and sings the provocative ‘My Offence’.
Andy Butler comments: “I wanted nasty basslines, stormy, bleary-eyed sounds, fiery, rough, tough and ragged old school house productions that sounded almost techno. I didn’t want polite, I wanted aggressive.”
This aesthetic coupled with tales of emotional triumph makes for something tough yet soulful. Meaningful house music that IS pop music and can speak to the most musically adroit of tastes. Kicking off proceedings is the dancefloor single ‘Do You Feel The Same?’ (w/Gustaph on vocals) , a jacking pop anthem released 14th April, with B-sides ‘Raid’ (a late night dancefloor banger replete with sirens) and ‘Working Miracles’ (a sample led journey into the more experimental side of Hercules & Love Affair).
‘The Feast Of The Broken Heart’ is co-produced by Ha-Ze Factory and industrial stalwart Mark Pistel and released on Moshi Moshi on May 26th. One of dance music’s finest live acts Hercules & Love Affair are set to announce a full run of European dates, summer shows and festivals.
Album tracklisting:
- Hercules Theme 2014
- My Offence feat. Krystle Warren
- I Try To Talk To You - feat. John Grant
- That's Not Me - feat. Gustaph
- Think - feat. Rouge Mary
- 5.43 To Freedom - feat. Rouge Mary
- The Light - feat. Krystle Warren
- Liberty - feat. John Grant
- Do You Feel The Same? – feat. Gustaph
- The Key - feat. Rouge Mary