Three years is a lifetime in the fast-moving world of indie rock, but it's been almost that long since English dance punk trio Friendly Fires unleashed their self-titled debut back in 2008. Earlier this year, the group announced that they were planning to drop their sophomore set in the spring. Sure enough, the band have just unveiled the details of the new album, entitled Pala, which is due on May 17 via XL Recordings.
Pala, which was previously only a working title, got its name from Aldous Huxley's 1962 novel Island. It was co-produced by the band and Paul Epworth (Cee Lo, Florence and the Machine), with sessions taking place in the UK, France and New York.
We will have to wait for the first single, "Live Those Days Tonight," to arrive in order to see whether the album will showcase the same shoegaze-y, dance-floor-friendly sound that first got the group noticed. The track is set to premiere today (March 22) on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1, and will be posted on Friendly Fires' official website soon after.
UPDATE: "Live Those Days Tonight" is now streaming at the bottom of the page.
The collection features a guest spot from the Harlem Gospel Choir on "Hurting," while Holy Ghost!'s Alex Frankel contributes clavinet to "True Love." The cover photo was shot by fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø.
The band will be supporting the release with a North American tour that will bring them to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver this spring. Check out the schedule here.
Pala:
1. "Live Those Days Tonight"
2. "Blue Cassette"
3. "Running Away"
4. "Hawaiian Air"
5. "Hurting"
6. "Pala"
7. "Show Me Lights"
8. "True Love"
9. "Pull Me Back to Earth"
10. "Chimes"
11. "Helpless"
Pala, which was previously only a working title, got its name from Aldous Huxley's 1962 novel Island. It was co-produced by the band and Paul Epworth (Cee Lo, Florence and the Machine), with sessions taking place in the UK, France and New York.
We will have to wait for the first single, "Live Those Days Tonight," to arrive in order to see whether the album will showcase the same shoegaze-y, dance-floor-friendly sound that first got the group noticed. The track is set to premiere today (March 22) on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1, and will be posted on Friendly Fires' official website soon after.
UPDATE: "Live Those Days Tonight" is now streaming at the bottom of the page.
The collection features a guest spot from the Harlem Gospel Choir on "Hurting," while Holy Ghost!'s Alex Frankel contributes clavinet to "True Love." The cover photo was shot by fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø.
The band will be supporting the release with a North American tour that will bring them to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver this spring. Check out the schedule here.
Pala:
1. "Live Those Days Tonight"
2. "Blue Cassette"
3. "Running Away"
4. "Hawaiian Air"
5. "Hurting"
6. "Pala"
7. "Show Me Lights"
8. "True Love"
9. "Pull Me Back to Earth"
10. "Chimes"
11. "Helpless"