Jungle

Wednesday 13 February 2019, 7:30pm - 11pm

The Nick Rayns LCR | UEA

+ georgia

Funk-indebted acts characterized by lazing rhythms, falsetto vocals, and commercial aspirations were scarce in 2014, when Jungle capitalized upon their breakthrough single "Busy Earnin'" with a self-titled album that hit the U.K. Top Ten. By the time the band had been nominated for a Mercury Prize and released the first singles from their follow-up full-length, the novelty tag had worn off and they had become fixtures of the revered XL Recordings label. Led by childhood friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, musicians originally identified as J and T, Jungle formed in early 2013 and wasted little time. Connected with the Chess Club label, they released their first singles -- the hypnotic and relaxed dance grooves "Platoon" and "The Heat" -- that July and October. The striking accompanying videos, featuring only the moves of six-year-old B-girl Terra in the former, and a roller-breaking duo in the latter, racked up millions of plays.

The band maintained a busy touring schedule, playing festivals such as England's Glastonbury and Belgium's Dour Festival, and sold-out large venues such as London's Brixton Academy. In early 2018, shortly after they performed at Mexico's Trópico festival, they released the drifting "House in L.A." and grooving "Happy Man" as the first singles off their second album. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

JUNGLE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM

In July 2014, Jungle released their self-titled debut album. Featuring the singles ‘Platoon’, ‘Busy Earnin’’, ‘Time’, ‘The Heat’ and ‘Julia’, neo-soul classics all, it was the aspirational sound of young London, a soundtrack of escapism, an unmistakable Jungle sound and a unique, vivid, visual Jungle world. The whole thing was dreamed up by Josh “J” Lloyd-Watson and Tom “T” McFarland, a production and multi-instrumentalist duo who never expected to leave their bedroom studios, far less become the core of a talent-filled seven-strong collective that morphed into a killer live outfit. Cue online word-of-mouth and IRL buzz, rave reviews, a Mercury Music Prize nomination, songs of the summer (two summers, even), viral videos, Noel Gallagher declaring the album “fucking amazing”, half a million sales, burgeoning DJ careers, a global tour that lasted two solid years. It all just happened.

Today, Jungle announce news of the follow-up to that defining debut record. The album is titled For Ever and will be released on 14th September via XL Recordings. If Jungle’s first album was their imaginary soundtrack to the places they had never been, For Ever is inspired by real life experiences of the places they’d dreamed of for so long. Swapping Shepherds Bush for the Hollywood Hills, J and T set up camp in Los Angeles to write and record the album. Over time however, their romanticization of The Californian Dream clashed with the reality of actually living it, the feeling of being adrift on the West Coast compounded by the collapse of long-term relationships. Returning home to London, they teamed up with highly regarded young producer Inflo where they sought to create a "post-apocalyptic radio station playing break up songs”, whittling down loads of ideas this concept spawned into the core 13 tracks you have before you. That station and those songs and that journey are the sound of Jungle’s second album For Ever. They had to go away to come home. And what J and T lost in love, they gained in music. For Ever is for real, deeper and higher, more intimate and more expansive, feelgood and, just occasionally, feelbad. It is, then, a proper second album.

For Ever Track List:

Smile
Heavy, California
Beat 54 (All Good Now)
Cherry
Happy Man
Casio
Mama Oh No
House In LA
Give Over
Cosurmyne
Home
(More and More) It Ain’t Easy
Pray

To coincide with news of their new album, Jungle today release two new songs from the record: ‘Heavy, California’ and ‘Cherry’. Both songs are available now via all digital services and are accompanied by two videos directed by Josh Lloyd-Watson & Charlie Di Placido for the JFC collective, available exclusively via Spotify and Apple Music respectively. They’re set to build on the success of ‘Happy Man’ and ‘House In LA’, the first tracks to be revealed from the album in May.

Meanwhile, Jungle have announced a huge headline tour that will run throughout 2018 and 2019. The tour will include their biggest headline shows to date, including a 10,000 capacity show at London’s legendary Alexandra Palace on February 21^st.

www.junglejunglejungle.com

www.facebook.com/jungle4eva/

https://twitter.com/jungle4eva/