Psych-jazz kings Mildlife announce new album, reveal first single ‘Rare Air’
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28.05.2020

Psych-jazz kings Mildlife announce new album, reveal first single ‘Rare Air’

Pic by Tom Ross
Words by Tom Parker

A tasty new track to get your Thursday underway.

Melbourne’s favourite nu-jazz craftsmen Mildlife have just announced that they’ve got a new album on the way. Titled Automatic, the record will permeate our consciousness on Friday September 18 through tastemakers Inertia Music.

Alongside the record announcement, they’ve also dropped a new track titled ‘Rare Air’, which is typically ethereal and spacious. As a tip-toeing synthesiser fades in and sets itself in place, providing the undercurrent to a buoyant journey, the track opens up like a blossoming flower and then it’s game on.

The strident four-piece enter a colosseum of transcendence and let things fly. You don’t know where to look as glitters of cosy electronic guitar jut in and out, Kevin McDowell and Adam Halliwell trade contrasting vocals like Torvill and Dean in the ice rink and a steady bassline ticks away.

To the band, Automatic will see the band occupy the dancefloor more than ever before to create a more longing, wistful experience. To vocalist McDowell, they haven’t been afraid to release themselves and not be restricted by confines or structure.

“The recorded songs kind of become the new reference point for playing the songs live,” says vocalist Kevin McDowell. “They both have different outcomes and we make our decisions for each based on that, but they’re symbiotic and they both influence each other. It’s usually a fairly natural flow from live to recorded back to live.”

Check out the new track below:

Mildlife’s new album, Automatic, comes out on Friday September 18 via Inertia.

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