Balthazar are pleased to announce their return with news of the forthcoming album Fever on 25th January 2019. Listen to the album’s title track Fever here - http://smarturl.it/BalthazarFeverSingle
It’s clear from the opening notes of the album’s first and title track Fever that the five-piece have changed, not least due to their individual musical pursuits over the past few years. Opening with a rolling languid bass riff,Fever unfurls into a slinky sunset jam, a swooping string motif adding drama to the funky bustle that fanfares Balthazar into new territory with their fourth album; honest, playful and underpinned with a carefree abandon from two extraordinary songwriters.
Following the band’s self-imposed hiatus, a break that saw frontmen and writing partners Jinte Deprez and Maarten Devoldere pursuing different individual interests from both a personal and creative perspective that has ultimately led the band to fashion their most cohesive album to date.
The break saw Devoldere release two albums of lush, moody art-jazz as Warhaus which, freed from the work constraints of Balthazar, eventually resulted in him ending up at a retreat in Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, his best friend since school, Deprez, remained at home in Ghent working in the studio, indulging his love of old-school R&B, and releasing a solo record under the nom de plume J. Bernardt. The freedom to indulge their whims and the result of those solo successes led to the urge to write together again, propelled by a broader artistic horizon and hastened by their mutual respect for each other’s work.
On reconvening the band had no plans, just a simple desire to better their previous works, and to further the band’s story. Both primary songwriters agreed on a less serious vision leaning towards a looser, refreshed sound – less melancholic, but retaining their unerring ability to create a hook-laden armoury. As Devoldere explains; “Some songs felt like classic Balthazar pop songs, others a little chipper, but it wasn’t until we had Fever that we had the foundation for the rest of the album.”
Released on vinyl, cd and digitally through Play It Again Sam,
Fever is available to pre-order here - http://smarturl.it/BalthazarFever
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
Meanwhile tickets for the bands European tour in 2019 go on sale at 10am on Friday 02 November with a special pre-sale to fans on Wednesday 31 October – the full itinerary is as follows:
- 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