PHOTO BY NATHAN NASH
By Darryl Paul
Forging a strong pop sound the group Arkells are widely considered one of the most passionate, exuberant bands that call to mind the dance music during late-night television sessions. Hailed by The Globe and Mail as “the right kind of band for this decade” Arkells are a spontaneous emotional-filled rock act, something of a marvel. With new looping electronic sounds, drum loops, punchy bass and stand-out vocals, Arkells leave a different impression, bringing nostalgia as well as modern sounds at the same time. A new crop of musicians taking on the chaotic energy with complete fun.
“Human Being”, is their latest single from their upcoming seventh studio record, Blink Twice, coming September 23rd via Virgin Records/Universal Music Canada.
“Human Being” is a song that’s supercharged with a catchy melody, hooky synths, and all that you would expect in a modern alternative pop-rock song yet there’s something that makes it stand out from the others. “We wanted a chaotic energy - something like Talking Heads meets Billy Joel”, says frontman Max Kerman. The thing that gets your head bobbing is the funky bassline that plays on throughout the song interleaving with the synth which in a way is assertively hypnotic. He later then adds, “We’re learning a lot about ourselves on this record. This song is about finding a truer version of yourself - the one you’ve hid in the past”. The group then roped in Lights to write about this discovery. “To me, this song feels like an anthem for seeking out moments and people that can make you feel something,” says Lights. “We all need a shake up and we all hate being stuck in a rut. We all, as humans, share commonalities and needs that bring us together”, he adds.
“Human Being” is a delightful, effervescent as it is heartwarming, it pushes the listener into a gleeful trance, a vortex of loving oneself. The production is neat, with sparkling sound, and a jubilant feeling all in all. The release of this new track follows the band's hometown festival, “The Rally” a highly anticipated and celebrated community event, breaking concert attendance records at Tim Nortons Field.
Blink Twice, the brand new companion album to the band’s current release, Blink Once (50M Streams), showcases a new collection of songs where Arkells continue to push their sound and creativity to a new level.
“Blink Twice, the album is about going to new places and seeing the world with fresh eyes. You can either move through life and grow stubborn, or you can grow curious, says frontman Max Kerman. The album has a lineup of guest artists along the ride. From Cold War Kids to Aly & Aj, Tegan and Sara, Lights, Cœur De Pirate, Joel Plaskett, and Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers.” At our core we’ll always be a living, breathing soul band. But Blink Twice lets us be that and more”, Max adds.
“Human Being” hovers over ethereal synths, funky bass, and poppy vocals giving a feeling of building the climax, a multi-colored track. It proves the intent of the band of creating something chaotic and something fun, feeling free, the feeling of being a human being. Their sound reconfigures the modern sound with a thrilling new vantage point.
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BLINK ONCE / TWICE 2022 TOUR:
July 30 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga
July 31 – Saint John, NB – Area 506 Festival
Aug 1 – St. Johns, NL - George Street
Aug 13 – Sudbury, ON - Grace Hartman Amphitheatre
Sept 9 – Berlin, GER – Lido w/ Lights
Sept 12 – Hamburg, GER – Knust w/ Lights
Sept 13 – Düsseldorf, GER - Zakk w/ Lights
Sept 15 – Norwich, UK – Waterfront Studio w/ Lights
Sept 16 – Bristol, UK – Thekla w/ Lights
Sept 17 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute 3 w/ Lights
Sept 19 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club w/ Lights
Sept 20 – Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor w/ Lights
Sept 22 – Manchester, UK – Club Academy w/ Lights
Sept 23 – London, UK – Brixton Electric w/ Lights
Sept 24 – Brighton, UK - Chalk w/ Lights
Sept 30 – Halifax, NS - Scotiabank Centre w/ Lights
Oct 20 – Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre w/ K.Flay
Oct 22 – Grande Prairie, AB - Bonnetts Energy Centre w/ K.Flay
Oct 25 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena w/ K.Flay
Oct 28 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome w/ K.Flay
Oct 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place w/ K.Flay
Nov 24 – Ottawa, ON – TD Arena w/ Joel Plaskett Emergency
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