"Towing The Line," the second track off Ben Howard's highly anticipated new album,Noonday Dream, premieres today on Zane Lowe's World Record on Beats1. Listen/share the song here: https://BenHoward.lnk.to/towingPR. Noonday Dream is outJune 1 on Republic Records and can be pre-ordered here: https://benhoward.lnk.to/NoondayPR
The new song follows the release of "A Boat To An Island On The Wall," which received widespread critical praise-The Independent proclaims, "'A Boat To An Island On The Wall' is a sprawling, mesmerizing track that shifts restlessly, rocking back and forth like that small boat on the waves, with the familiar sound of Howard's low, gruff vocals," while Paste adds,
"This seven-minute single features Howard harmonizing with himself, as ambient chords slowly ease the quite song into a grungy guitar riff." NYLON furthers, "Press play and let this cinematic gem wash over you."
Noonday Dream was written and produced by Howard, with production contributions from regular collaborator and band-mate Mickey Smith. The album was recorded over the course of two years in various studios throughout Europe, including the legendary Sawmills Studio as well as locations in southwest France. The new recording continues to highlight Howard's sonic evolution with unpredictable and textured arrangements and rich, emotive songwriting.
Howard and his six-piece band will bring the new music to life on tour throughout the year. The news of his first live shows since 2015 was met with immediate enthusiasm, selling out all dates across Europe. Howard has confirmed additional performances in the U.K. this summer, with news of stateside touring to come. His acclaimed live show has seen him sell-out renowned venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Los Angeles' Greek Theatre as well as three nights at Alexander Palace in London. See below for details.
Howard's debut album Every Kingdom was released in October 2011. The album sold more than one million copies globally, receiving a Mercury Music Prize nomination, and winning him two Brit Awards in 2012 for "British Breakthrough" and "British Solo Male Artist." The follow up, I Forget Where We Were, was met with similar critical and commercial acclaim-the album earned an Ivor Novello Award nomination, the U.K.'s most prestigious songwriting accolade, and charted #1 in the U.K. Howard's music has amassed well over half a billion streams to date. Additionally, Howard set up his own Hell Up Records to launch the 2017 debut from A Blaze of Feather-a project by Smith and Howard's band.
NOONDAY DREAM TRACKLIST
1. Nica Libres At Dusk
2. Towing The Line
3. A Boat To An Island On The Wall
4. What The Moon Does
5. Someone In The Doorway
6. All Down The Mines (Interlude)
7. The Defeat
8. A Boat To An Island Part II Agatha's Song
9. There's Your Man
10. Murmurations
BEN HOWARD LIVE
May 27-Coliseu dos Recreios-Lisbon, Portugal
May 28-Teatro Sa Da Barderia-Porto, Portugal
May 29-Teatro Victoria Eugenia-San Sebastián, Spain
June 1-E-Wek-Cologne, Germany
June 3-Sentrum Scene-Oslo, Norway
June 4-Cirkus-Stockholm, Sweden
June 6- Admiralpalast-Berlin, Germany
June 8-Stodola-Warsaw, Poland
June 9-Divadlo Archa-Prague, Czech Republic
June 11-Salle Pleyel-Paris, France
June 13-14-Hammersmith Apollo-London, UK
June 28-Playhouse- Edinburgh, IL
June 29-Albert Hall-Manchester, UK
June 30-The Eden Sessions-Cornwall, UK
July 3-Theatres Romains de Fouviere-Lyon, France
July 4-Anfiteatro del Vittoriale- Gardone Riviera, Italy
July 6- Rock Wertcher-Wertcher, Belgium
July 7- AFAS-Amsterdam, Netherlands
July 8-Rockhal-Luxembourg, Germany
July 13-Mad Cool Festival-Madrid, Spain
July 14-Cruilla Festival-Barcelona, Spain
July 22-Splendour In The Grass-Byron Bay, Australia
September 1-Electric Picnic-Stradbally, Ireland
September 8-9- Lollapalooza Berlin-Berlin, Germany
Photo Credit: Roddy Bow
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