Balthazar see in 2019 with a new track I’m Never Gonna Let You Down Again taken from their new album Fever on Play It Again Sam and released on 25th January.
Led by the song-writing frontmen of Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez, Balthazar return to the fray following 2015’s Thin Walls album - the interim has seen both musicians embark on their own solo excursions, Deprez under his J.Bernardt moniker with the soul-infused Running Days whilst under the guise of Warhaus, Devoldere released two albums nestling amidst a backdrop of lush jazz-art sounds.
Like the album’s previously unveiled title track Fever, I’m Not Gonna Let You Down Again features Deprez on lead vocals mining a now familiar vein of upbeat, newly discovered playfulness with the addition of distinct vocal accompaniment from Devoldere - Balthazar in their own hazy world of r’n’b infused pop, an altogether looser feel that draws on their recent solo outings…
As Deprez explains; I’m never gonna let you down again is a breakup song with a twist, a groovy soul ode with a synthesizer, a chorus with a Bee Gee touch. It’s shaking it off, wherever it stuck.
Fever, meanwhile sees the Belgian indie stalwarts inhabiting new ground, from the opening bass notes of the title track, Fever it’s clear that Balthazar have changed. It was this track that gave the band the direction, impetus and tone of the album; honest, playful, and shot through with the carefree abandon of two writers who work as one, completely at ease with themselves and the collective they’ve built. Having stepped away from the confines of the band there was never any doubt as to whether they would reunite the band. In fact, the success of their own projects hastened the urge to write together again, both curious as to how their newfound maturity and broader musical horizons would spark against each other.
Released on vinyl, cd and digitally Fever is available to pre-order here: http://smarturl.it/BalthazarFever
The full track listing is:
- Fever
- Changes
- Wrong faces
- Whatchu Doin’
- Phone Number
- Entertainment
- I’m Never Gonna let You Down Again
- Grapefruit
- Wrong Vibration
- Roller Coaster
- You’re So Real
Live dates
- 06.02 – The Fleece, BRISTOL UK
- 07.02 – Green Door Store, BRIGHTON UK
- 08.02 – The Deaf Institute, MANCHESTER UK
- 09.02 – Whelans, DUBLIN IE
- 10.02 – Oran Mor, GLASGOW UK
- 12.02 – Scala, LONDON UK
- 13.02 – Live Music Hall, KÖLN DE
- 14.02 – Grunspan, HAMBURG DE
- 15.02 – Huxleys, BERLIN DE
- 16.02 – Technikum, MUNICH DE
- 17.02 – Batschkapp, FRANKFURT DE
- 19.02 – Flex, VIENNA AT
- 20.02 – Santeria Social Club, MILAN IT
- 22.02 -Les Docks, LAUSANNE CH
- 23.02 – Plaza, ZURICH CH
- 25.02 – Majestic Music Club, BRATISLAVA SK
- 26.02 – Control Club, BUCHAREST RO
- 28.02 – Lucerna Music Bar, PRAGUE CZ
- 01.03 – Klub Proxima, WARSAW PL
- 07.03 – AFAS Live, AMSTERDAM NL
- 08.03 – Lotto Arena, ANTWERP BE
- 24.03 – Aeronef Club, PARIS FR
- 25.03 – Casino de Paris, PARIS FR
- 28.03 – Épicerie Moderne, FEYZIN FR
- 29.03 – Rockstore, MONTPELIER FR
- 30.03 – Sala Apolo, BARCELONA ESP
- 31.03 – Cool Stage, MADRID ES
- 02.04 – Krakatoa, BORDEAUX FR
- 03.04 – Stereolux, NANTES FR