In Amber, the upcoming new album from Hercules & Love Affair, seems to be breaking new ground for the iconic dance act led by Andy Butler. Lead single Grace showcased Butler’s voice like never before, while Poisonous Storytelling saw Butler reunite with frequent collaborator and best friend ANOHNI on what may be Love Affair’s most sweepingly cinematic work to date. ANOHNI is also a greater presence on the album, a sort of return to Hercules & Love Affair’s roots through a more wizened lens. During a recent interview with us, Butler himself confirmed how In Amber continues the trajectory of Hercules & Love Affair’s exploration of electronic music as a medium of queer expression, this time extending the journey toward spaces such as post-punk and goth.
One, the latest single to be shared from In Amber, leans into the darker influences Butler pointed on In Amber. Built around a reverberating, throbbing and primordial bassline, ANOHNI performs a sort of incantation that’s part folk-song, part musical theatre monologue. One blossoms into an epic disco led chorus, but it’s not easily defined. The track traverses influences and aesthetic qualities, from the melodrama of pantomime to the grit of ancient battle hymns. Gothic harpsichord keys chime out at the song’s conclusion, ominous and rooted in a sort of strange, primeval strength that Butler seems to be channelling in spades during this new era.
Listen to One below. In Amber is out June 17th, pre-order the album here. Look out for our upcoming podcast with Hercules & Love Affair coming soon.
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