The Murder Capital

Support: Pet Fox

Today, Ireland’s The Murder Capital share “Ethel,” the third single from their forthcoming second album, Gigi’s Recovery. The meditative and plaintive opening line of the propulsive new single, “I always wanted it to be like this for us, strung out on love” finds the narrator at a precipice, the song a re-examination of past desires and priorities, whether they are worth still carrying, or if they should be left behind. The track bursts open in its latter half, with the lyrics, “I always wanted it to be like this for us, having our first kid name her Ethel,” ultimately becoming a hopeful and cathartic directive, the path forward now clear. The band share about the new single: “The song ‘Ethel’ is a picture of a crossroads, really, asking you what you want from life. Whether you want to continue down a path of chaos, or make a change in your course. It’s showing you what is possible when you make the decisions that bring a sort of cradled warmth into your future. The idea of ‘Ethel’ is that you can have what you truly desire if you put to rest those short-lived fixes that never bring you any real happiness.” Listen to Ethel here.

The band today also share the Maxim Kelly directed video for “Ethel.” Kelly shares about the making of the video: “Initially I thought Ethel should be the main character and do the dance at the end, and I always had this image from this French film called My American Uncle. Where it’s like a little girl standing up at a table. I originally had that image in my head for a rap video, but it didn’t really make sense to the song, I wanted this to feel more like surreal so then as I started finding more imagery, it kind of transpired that maybe the maid was the more interesting character.”  Watch the music video for Ethel here.

The John Congleton produced Gigi’s Recovery, set for release on January 20th via Human Season Records, follows the Irish band’s celebrated 2019 debut album, When I Have Fears, which reached a #2 position in their native Ireland and Top 20 chart position in the UK, and featured in media end of year lists internationally with The Guardian calling it “an outstanding debut from a great new band who play it like they mean it.” The album will be available on CD, in several LP editions, and digitally and is available for pre-order HERE.

While the material on When I Have Fears captured the vital beginnings of the group, the 12 songs of Gigi’s Recovery push the band into ever braver sonic territories, oceans apart from previous peers. Ambition is put right at the front and center, with the inventive, expansive guitar work of Cathal Roper and Damien Tuit paired to a precise and intelligent rhythmic unit in bassist Gabriel Paschal Blake and drummer Diarmuid Brennan. Electronic elements are noticeably more prominent across the record, with industrial influences explored in greater detail than ever before, James McGovern’s bold melodies acting as a reassuring anchor so we never get totally swept away into the band’s new found soundscape.

The Murder Capital also made their live return this year performing at the likes of Primavera Sound, VYV Festival and Solidays, as well as opening for Pearl Jam at British Summer Time. The performances follow their largely sold-out EU / UK tours in 2020, which saw them sell out their biggest headline show to date at London’s Electric Ballroom.