Bez took to his Instagram to announce the release to fans, the post also supplied a snippet of the psychedelic video and track featuring the dancer and percussionist’s debut vocal performance.

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A post shared by Bez (@bezmondays)

The new release is the first track in which includes a traditional vocal appearance from Bez and also features vocals from Firouzeh. Previously known for his maraca playing and famed interactive stage antics, it is exciting news for fans old and new to hear Bez take centre stage. The press release for the new track has provided the following description, “hypnotic homage to the glory days of acid house“.

The track seems to serve as a dedication to the Second Summer of Love, the cultural phenomenon which took the United Kingdom by storm within the late 1980s, most predominately the summer of 1988. The cultural wave saw the rise in popularity of acid house, electronic dance music and the rave scene, fuelled by certain drug influences such as MDMA, the psychedelic and hedonistic scene was particularly taken upon by the nation’s youth. With these factors mixed together, this new musical philosophy embodied itself within the ideologies of freedom, pleasure and indulgence.

It is this sense of freedom in which ‘Flying Bus’ sets out to embody and along with a nostalgic wish for the past, Bez, DJ Doorly and Firouzeh are determined to take the listener back to their youth, full of fun and parties. Bez’s vocal line tells the story of the iconic Glastonbury stage Flying Bus, which is said to be the most rambunctious and often the last to close with parties going on until the early morning and the inspiration behind the song’s title

The accompanying music video also keeps within these cultural themes, the video sees Bez play a colourful bus conductor with DJ Doorly as the magical Bus’s driver. Again, staying within the theme of the 1980’s cultural and music scene, a passenger seemingly dragged down by the burdens of corporate life is taken to the legendary nightclub and music venue, The Hacienda. The Hacienda became a vital part of the dance and rave scene within the 1980s, situated in Manchester, the club became an important role within the career of Happy Mondays and many other bands involved within the genre. The new release’s music video sees Bez and DJ Doorly work with fellow Manchester artists and animators, Friend Party Studios.

The description affixed to the new release’s promo and its music video gives the video’s storyboard and the emotions it aims to conveys: “An office worker’s day gets off to a bad start after being stung by a psychedelic bee, but things get even more trippy when the Flying Bus pulls up. Bus conductor Bez and bus driver Doorly take our hapless hero on an adventure like no other, as he discovers a world of trippy visuals and pure party excess, ending up on the dancefloor of the iconic Manchester club The Haçienda. There’s only one thing to do: free your mind and take a one-way ticket on the Flying Bus!”

The Bolton born cultural personality has provided the following statement concerning his recent collaboration, reinforcing the song’s musical and lyrical themes. “It was a brilliant work trip to Ibiza to collaborate with Doorly at his studio that created this tune, My Flying Bus stage at Glastonbury is really special to me and a great hangout for the hardcore party people. I’ve been missing it so much and this track conjures up that Flying Bus magic. The song is about that freedom you feel when you’re gathered with like-minded people. This is the first vocal track I’ve ever brought out and I’m nervous and excited at the same time. I hope people will get ‘on the bus’ and enjoy it, get lost in a moment in time, that’s the whole vibe!”

DJ Doorly has also spoken about the experience working with Bez and what fans can expect next from the duo. “Writing a track together with the legend Bez was a hell of a lot of fun, not sure if you’ve met him but he’s a bit of a character, We really bonded over our shared love for the transatlantic Acid House movement from the late 80s/early 90s. Our aim was to bring a slice of that magic coming out of Chicago and Manchester around that time, with a celebration of Bez’s bonkers Flying Bus party at Glastonbury. It all came together and it’s a real pleasure to have Bez on my Reptile Dysfunction label, you can expect more from us both this year.”

As well as the promise for even more material, Bez and DJ Doorly have been confirmed to embark on a tour jammed full of dates this Summer. Fans can now also catch Bez on YouTube, since the lockdown this year the performer has started a new career path as a fitness advisor. His courses and workshops can be found as online fitness videos on the channel Spoke TV, entitled ‘Get Buzzin’ With Bez‘.

Click here to purchase and stream the track.

Originally set to drop on the 10th July 2020, Glass Animals postponed the release of Dreamland in respect to the Black Lives Matter movement. Frontman Dave Bayley relayed their solidarity with the movement, writing in a post on Instagram that “The fight for civil rights is so much bigger and more important than any single piece of music.”

A sonic feast of glowing synthesised keys, glittering guitars and otherworldly percussion, Dreamland is not just an album, but an experience. Opening with a symphony of celestial organs, the heavenly title track sets the album’s lucid tone. Frontman Dave Bayley’s hypnotic vocals sing “Pulling down backstreets deep in your head/Slipping through dreamland like a tourist”. A sixteen track journey, Dreamland’s title track entices the listener down the rabbit hole, and you go willingly. 

Tangerine, a song about a broken relationship, playfully misleads you with its buoyant synth and vibrant backing track. The wistful lyrics, such as “I wish I could show you more of yourself/I wish I could make you somebody else” and “I’m beggin’ hands, knees, please/Tangerine, come on back to me” heightens the album’s introspective, personal nature. 

Glass Animals’ union with talented rapper Denzel Curry on Tokyo Drifting delivers a sharp, hard-hitting track that stands out from the rest of the album. A captivating blend of two diverse sonic palettes, Tokyo Drifting showcases the many moods of Glass Animals. 

The album shifts to a spooky tone on Space Ghost Coast to Coast. A reference to the 1994 animated talk show with the same name, the song is dark, beguiling bop. Bayley sings haunting lyrics like “Really think that metal gonna make you safe?/Playing peek-a-boo with the devil these days” that allude to gun violence. 

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WE DID IT. two years ago we didn’t know if we’d be able to make a third album together. feel incredibly, incredibly lucky to get to do this again thanks to our friends, family, team, labels, and to all of YOU. you all rulewe’re celebrating tonight. big love, dave and dudes xxx

A post shared by Glass Animals (@glassanimals) on Aug 7, 2020 at 2:09pm PDT

Glass Animals also took to social media today to ring in the release of Dreamland. Sharing the good news to Instagram, Glass Animals posted a celebratory snap to over 309,000 followers.  Featuring bandmates and long-time friends Dave Bayley, Drew MacFarlane, Joe Seaward and Edmund Irwin-Singer posing sweetly with their arms around one another, Glass Animals captioned the photo: “WE DID IT…We feel incredibly, incredibly lucky to get to do this again.” With a whopping 51,000 likes, the post was met with joy from Glass Animals’ huge fanbase. 

 

 

 

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NEW ALBUM, NEW TOUR. So, so excited to announce 2021 dates in the UK and Europe. These shows are going to feel so euphoric. We’ll be out of lockdown, joe will be back on the drums after his accident, and we’ll be playing all the new ones for the first time. see you there. PS UK/IRELAND: there’s a special ticket pre-sale next wed 9am (aug 5th). to get access grab a copy of our album from the official store (link in bio) before 5pm tues (aug 4th). you’ll get sent a code, the link & all deets via email. if you’ve already pre-ordered dw you’ll automatically get a code!! general on sale for all eu, uk & ireland shows is 9am BST / 10am CET fri 7th august. Xxx A post shared by Glass Animals (@glassanimals) on Jul 31, 2020 at 7:00am PDT

Chatting to Billboard about the intricate process behind Dreamland, Bayley described how they played around with music from his personal favourites. Bayley relayed that “I bought a lot of instruments that The Beatles and The Beach Boys might have used, and resampled them on samplers that Timbaland and Dr. Dre used.”

As well as the exciting arrival of Dreamland, Glass Animals have announced that they will return to the road next year. Set for a UK and European tour in May 2021, tickets for the ‘Welcome to Dreamland’ tour are out now.