Crooked Colours release highly anticipated new studio album 'Dirt Road Gold'
This is an industry only promotions list for new music from Sweat It Out
Award winning multi-platinum selling Australian artist Crooked Colours today releases dreamy, timeless and euphoric new studio album, Dirt Road Gold. A 12-track LP harnessed in growth, emotional fragility and pure lyrical substance in today’s global electronic arena. Formally a trio now solely led by Philip Slabber, the industry-admired lead singer delivers a personally career defining achievement as Crooked Colours. Dirt Road Gold is well-rounded, multi-genred and sits heavily in introspection, Slabber reflects, “Every decision feels more personal. There’s no hiding behind anything, which is confronting, but also really empowering. It forced me to trust my instincts in a way I never have before.”
A natural progression of skill, empathy and sonic experience from previous albums Vera (2017), triple j Feature Album Langata (2019) and again triple j Feature Album Tomorrows (2022), Dirt Road Gold pushes the boundaries and broadens the horizon of the internationally acclaimed Crooked Colours. “This record came from a pretty transitional place in my life. A lot changed — not just musically, but personally too. Stepping into this next chapter as a solo project meant I had to really sit with myself and figure out what I actually wanted to say. There’s a kind of honesty that comes with that, but also a bit of vulnerability.” Slabber explains further.
Opening with single ‘Oxford’, it’s signature Crooked Colours song-writing and more significantly storytelling at its finest. A definitive mood-setter for the album as a collective Slabber sings, “This might be as good as it will get” - evidently, not the case. To follow, ‘Pressure’ is a respectful nod to the roots of Crooked Colours, simple piano chords, intentional house music builds and intricate ear candies throughout. Track three, the previously released ‘Come Thru’ navigates subtle sonic moments of light and shade. With an infectious melodic hook and polished vocal layering, it’s moody and ethereal; suitable for both intimate late-night listening and famed festival stages.
‘I Can’t Forget You’ is a song that sees Slabber collaborate with formidable ARIA Award winning Australian music heavyweight Julian Hamilton of The Presets. Cited by platform The Music, “The single sees Crooked Colours stay true to his beloved sound while boldly shape-shifting towards the future.” Slabber speaks to the record personally, “Sometimes it’s a real grind trying to get your ideas to sound right, other times they just pour out and work. This one was the latter.”
Effortlessly leading into ‘All Yours’, a uniquely beautiful and desirable call and response love letter. Featuring Georgi Kay, it’s heartbreakingly lustful and poignant. ‘I Just Want To Be With You’ arrives next, a concept track leaning on the evolution of production elements as opposed to vocal notoriety. Next, conceptualised alongside Xavier Dunn (The Rions, Hayden James Jack River), ‘Pink Limo’ initiates instant main stage energy. Listed by Rolling Stone AUNZ in ‘Best Australian Music of the Week’ the publication stating, “The instantly catchy, indie-dance-pop anthem ‘Pink Limo’ is uplifting and spirited, refreshing but with that distinctive Crooked Colours sound synonymous with the outfit.”
Title track ‘Dirt Road Gold’ then steps outside that traditional Crooked Colours output; guitar plucks, raspy vocals and train rhythm snare. “What happens when your buddy dares you to write a house inspired country song? ‘Dirt Road Gold’, that’s what happens.” Slabber expresses with vigor. ‘Do Me Like That’ then enters, sampling Australian up-and-coming vocalist Luna and born from last year's first Sweat It Out Amsterdam Writing Camp. Next, ‘Moonlight’ is haunting and visceral, a lush and full-bodied audio experience. Emotionally-charged the album pivots into ‘Forever Tonight’, paying homage to Crooked Colours’ global recognition of bridging the gap between indie and electronic music for over a decade. Up-tempo melodies, synth bursts and sonic blasts aplenty.
A finale, ‘Honey Dog’ is cinematic and of soundtrack proportions, the ideal consummate to Dirt Road Gold. Choir elements and driven by clear artistic substance and depth, the track encapsulating the Crooked Colours renowned aesthetic; experimental, hopeful and poetic.
Speaking of the overall process, heart and creativity behind Dirt Road Gold Slabber touches further on this deeply intimate and legacy-building moment, "The vision for this album was to create something that feels honest to where I’m at right now, but still connected to the DNA of Crooked Colours. It’s not about reinventing everything - it’s about evolving it. Letting it breathe, letting it grow. At its core, this record is about change - and learning to be okay with it."
Having notably performed at Laneway Festival, Falls Festival, Beyond The Valley, Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, Grooving The Moo, Spilt Milk and Splendour In The Grass, Slabber has continually earnt a dedicated following as an institution in the dance realm. Highlighted collaborations with Don Toliver, Masked Wolf and Ladyhawke alongside official remixes from Claptone, HOSH, Kyle Watson, SNBRN, Alison Wonderland, Hermitude and Bag Raiders all adding to the culture and escape that is Crooked Colours.
With a dedicated following as a cornerstone of the Australian music scene, Crooked Colours will celebrate Dirt Road Gold with an upcoming tour kicking off in October via Freo. Social in Fremantle, Metro Theatre in Sydney, Northcote Theatre in Melbourne, Lion Arts Factory in Adelaide, Brisbane’s The Triffid and Byron Bay’s The Northern.
Dirt Road Gold Tracklist:
1. Oxford
2. Pressure
3. Come Thru
4. I Can’t Forget You
5. All Yours feat. Georgi Kay
6. I Just Wanna Be With You
7. Pink Limo
8. Dirt Road Gold
9. Do Me Like That
10. Moonlight
11. Forever Tonight
12. Honey Dog
Dirt Road Gold Tour Dates:
- FRI 16 OCT - FREO. SOCIAL, FREMANTLE
- FRI 23 OCT - METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY
- SAT 24 OCT - NORTHCOTE THEATRE, MELBOURNE
- FRI 30 OCT - LION ARTS FACTORY, ADELAIDE
- SAT 31 OCT - THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE
- SUN 1 NOV - THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY
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