The SEVEN UPS - The Old World

NORTHSIDE

£18.90

LABEL: Northside Records
DISTRIBUTION: Australia: Northside / One Nation Vinyl Distribution
FORMAT : Vinyl
CAT NO : NR027
RELEASE DATE: 2nd July 2021
GENRE: Instrumental Afro Funk

The fourth studio album from Melbourne’s 7-piece heavy groove combo is an abstruse journey into the darker fringes of instrumental music, drifting from funk to spiritual jazz and through to psychedelic fuzz rock.

Inspired by the catastrophic year that was 2020, the bands recording sessions were rescheduled three times due to extended Melbourne lock downs, before finally being recorded in November 2020. The album’s title, The Old World, refers to life before the onset of the pandemic which shattered 21stcentury humanity’s sense of stability and invincibility. Arcing back to the simplicities and blissful ignorance that existed before the grim onset of empty supermarket shelves, deserted streets and a world locked down.

The album begins with psychedelic-soul lament, Death of the Old Gods, before rolling into apocalyptic-dancefloor-fillers Hold Fast to the Void and Abode of the Clouds, then momentarily mellowing out on laid-back number, Never Again. Side 2 opens with Harry Cooper pt II (a tribute to the bands sax player and a follow up to part I from their 2017 album Drinking Water) before launching into brutal and fiery, The Beast, then finally closing with the epic 12 minute spiritual-jazz title-track, The Old World. The astute listener may also hear sprinkled across the album hints of Afrobeat, Free-Jazz and Stoner-Doom (yep, Stoner-Doom), along with plenty of the bands new favourite instrument, the goat bell.

Released on local Melbourne label, Northside Records, the album will be available on limited edition night-sky marbled vinyl and features cover artwork by Australian artist, Daniel Hend.

The band are taking the new album on the road for a run of tour shows:

July 17 - Howler, Brunswick w/ Thando & Charlie Needs Braces

August 6 – Hotel Westwood, Footscray

August 13 – Republic Bar, Hobart w/ Jay Jarome Trio

August 20 – The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine

On The Seven Ups previous releases

"I've been playing this little monster to death on my (BBC) 6 music show. It's raw, it's gritty, it's tough as nails." - Craig Charles, BBC Radio 2 & 6

“Makes us remember how much we can love instrumental music.” - Wax Poetics USA

"As tight as they need to be, and as loose as you want them to be." - DJ Miss Goldie, PBS FM

"Hugggeeee big band sound - great work guys!! Mad Men fans rejoice" - Rosie Beaton, Triple J