VAN HOUTEN announce self-titled debut album and share dreamy first track ‘Moon’

NEWCOMERS VAN HOUTEN
TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM VAN HOUTEN

Out 13^th September on CLUE RECORDS

Leeds quintet Van Houten are a band of sharp parallels. Their languorous, sub-mersive soundscapes are dappled in evening sun, while the lyrical content within is evocative of a blanket of unforgiving fog that foretells pounding rains ahead. Newly signed to Clue Records, the band come straight out of the gate fully armed with an accomplished and immediate self-titled debut, out September 13^th. Today they share lead single ‘Moon’ – an ode to a new love.

Talking about the track, lead singer Louis Sadler said: “Moon is essentially a very personal love song. It explores the fleeting qualities of love and the desperation of wanting to give somebody anything and everything. The line “You always leave so soon” describes how a crush or loved one always seems to leave before the one chasing has chance to show the full potential of their affection. It was written around 3 years ago after I heard Weird Fishes by Radiohead & was intrigued by the chord changes. It’s been reworked lots since then until it turned into Moon.”

While artists operating from a similar whimsical, slacker-pop wheelhouse (think Connan Mockasin) often draw content from literary, sci-fi planes, Van Houten use their dreamy sound world as a backdrop for their most crushing struggles. Sadler is unflinchingly honest, railing against depression and its innate ability to inhibit him from being the caring partner he wishes to be.

Largely recorded across just three December days, ‘Van Houten’ was produced by Martin Smith (Gomez, Bombay Bicycle Club, Richard Hawley). With Smith at the helm, Van Houten were able to realise their true sound. “We met Martin at a small bar in Sheffield. He went on to do a whole new mix and master of our then single ‘Ever Changing Light.’ The way Martin made the track sound made us realise what could be possible for our music. It was a match made in heaven.

“When making the album, we were able to finally sculpt the vintage Hi-Fi sound that we have always been searching for. The title is Van Houten because this is the first work we have created that truly represents our band. This new sound is the true sound of our band,” Sadler explains. An album for all seasons, it’s clear that Van Houten are already expert at their craft and a band to be reckoned with. The rest of 2019 and 2020 will see them embark on further UK tours, while the future holds a magnitude of possibility for the exciting young quintet.