Home Counties share writhing new single 'New Best Thing' | new album 'Humdrum' - out 24th Oct on Submarine Cat | Produced by Al Doyle

Home Counties today release new single 'New Best Thing', a stomping, synth-laced thrill ride and the latest preview of their eagerly awaited second album 'Humdrum', out 24th October via Submarine Cat Records - produced by Al Doyle (of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem).

Written in a rare moment of spontaneity, 'New Best Thing' unspools like a strobe-lit meltdown - half blog-era dance-punk, half indie sleaze fever dream. Synths squelch and guitars stab between swung, danceable rhythms, as vocalists Will Harrison and Lois Kelly skewer the kind of brash self-belief that thrives in a world of instant gratification and blurred moral lines.

Will Harrison explains: “Inspired by the electroclash of Peaches with the Cowboy-guitar blues rock of Alabama 3, we tried to make something that was fun and immediate – something that wouldn’t feel out of place on a PlayStation 2 driving game. Pairing swung drums and obnoxious synths and guitars, it felt sleazy and swaggering.

"This feeling inspired the lyrical content, capturing the overconfidence that comes from consumption and how society either tolerates it or looks down upon it depending on class. Writing the lyrics and music quickly also added to the general immediacy of the song. It was a rare moment of not allowing ourselves to overthink things, which I guess in a way reflects the carelessness of the subject matter.”

While Home Counties' widely acclaimed debut 'Exactly As It Seems' leaned into bright edges and a kind of knowing eccentricity, new album 'Humdrum' marks a colder, leaner turn. Sharper in both tone and intent, the songs feel more honed and explosive - a natural progression for a band who’ve steadily earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most exhilarating live acts.

At its core, 'Humdrum' is an album about communication. Across its 10 tracks, it captures the unease of saying too much or not enough, the quiet resentment of being out-charmed, and the spiral of overthinking. Told through the dual voices and perspectives of lead vocalists Will Harrison and Lois Kelly, 'Humdrum' trades in wiry grooves, synths that lurch between menace and euphoria, and razor-sharp pop instincts - wrapping knotty ideas into songs that feel both meticulously constructed and joyfully unhinged.

On working with Al Doyle, the band went on to say:

"We spent two weeks in Al's studio just off Brick Lane and had such a good time. We made full use of his incredible collection of vintage analogue synths. Al has a great instinct for pulling things back when needed to better serve the songs, and his input on arrangements really helped the tracks build in a more dynamic way.

"For this new album, we gave ourselves time to experiment and to refine sounds in a way we had never done on previous releases. It also led to a more collaborative approach in the studio, with us performing collectively on the same synthesiser to capture more human performances from electronic instruments."

2024 saw the release of Home Counties' critically acclaimed debut album 'Exactly As It Seems' (Submarine Cat Records), a sync on the EA Sports FC 24 soundtrack, and sold-out headline shows across the UK, including 3 in London at the 100 Club, Oslo Hackney and Omeara.

Home Counties' new album 'Humdrum' is out 24th October on Submarine Cat Records - available for pre-order here. New single 'New Best Thing' is out now. Tickets for Home Counties' winter headline tour, culminating in London's Scala on 2nd December, are on sale here.

LIVE DATES

SEPTEMBER

13 - Schippersweekend, Belgium

OCTOBER

04 - Night Currents, Portsmouth

11 - Shiny New Model, Cambridge

17 - Wild Paths, Norwich

NOVEMBER

22 - Rough Trade, Bristol

23 - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

24 - Green Door Store, Brighton

27 - Bodega, Nottingham

28 - Flying Duck, Glasgow

29 - Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds

30 - YES Pink Room, Manchester

DECEMBER

01 - Hallamshire Hotel, Sheffield

02 - Scala, London