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Brian Campeau Unveils New Single ‘Next October’- Via Small Pond Recordings

June 24, 2018

Brian Campeau Unveils New Single ‘Next October’- Via Small Pond 

FFO John Misty, Jens Lekman, Sufjan Stevens, White Denim

“Next October” is the second single to be lifted from Brian Campeau‘s forthcoming new album, due out in late summer via Small Pond recordings in collaboration with their Australian soulmates Art As Catharsis.

Rich with vocal harmonies and buoyant, intricate guitar lines,this upbeat and idiosyncratic folk-laced song was released online on 20th June, ahead of the radio impact date of 3rd August.

It is the perfect follow-up to “Whatever Happened To Xanadu”, which introduced the Canadian-Australian indie troubadour’s new record in May, gaining heavy daytime BBC 6Music support from Radcliffe & Maconie and Lauren Laverne (who also championed the song on 6Music Recommends), to add to blog love from the likes of CLASH, Mystic Sons and Original Rock.

Written at speed, as part of a recent 20 songs in 20 days challenge, the lavish intricacy and depth of “Next October” is testament to Campeau‘s finely honed musical instincts and a newfound love of intense, spur-of-the-moment creative processes.

Bringing an incredible groove to Campeau‘s intensely odd, programmed drum pattern, Chris Allison (Plini) lends his skills behind the kit, while Josh Ahearn joins Campeau on guitar. Those familiar with Campeau‘s past work (in particular his last acclaimed album ‘Don’t Overthink it, Overthink, Overthinking‘ (2015), which comprised one- and two-take recordings, made over a mere five days) will be familiar with his knack for capturing and running with a fresh spark of creativity.

For an artist of such virtuosic musical talent and extensive classical training, this was a lesson hard learned, but one that has spurred a deeply felt happiness and sense of freedom. As with previous albums, on his new opus Campeau set out with a concept in mind, and this time it was to project positivity in his sound, cutting loose from any introspective, overly serious impressions that his music has made in the past. No less multi-layered or intense than their predecessors, his new songs are threaded with offbeat wit and positive, psychedelic vibrations.

Brian Campeau is widely regarded as one of the most confounding and creative artists working in Australia today. In addition to his previous solo albums (which also include 2007’s ‘Two Faces’ and 2009’s ‘Mostly Winter, Sometimes Spring‘) he has recorded and toured as one half of folk-pop act The Rescue Ships and as part of Sydney’s bluegrass revivalists The Green Mohair Suits, while also producing records for the likes of Melanie Horsnell in his St Peters studio. Drawing influence from a limitless range of styles, Campeau has described his own music, with characteristic wry clarity, as “Bjork meets Nick Drake, or Cass McCombs getting depressed and calling Air for consolation”.

Single artwork by Andrea Meacham.

Look out for the “Next October” video, in June/July.

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