Astrel K Reveals Second Album 'The Foreign Department'
Released on March 8th, 2024 via Tough Love.
Today, Tough Love proudly announces the forthcoming release of The Foreign Department the highly anticipated second album from Astrel K. The album is set to hit shelves on March 8th, 2024, and will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats. Fans can already get a taste of what's to come with the release of the first single 'Darkness At Noon' along with an accompanying music video.
Astrel K, is the solo project of Stockholm-based British ex-pat Rhys Edwards, known for his role as the frontman of the cult-favourite Ulrika Spacek. The Foreign Department represents a pivotal moment in Edwards' career, showcasing his cathartic songwriting and marking a significant evolution.
The album, available for pre-order at here, explores themes of transition, dissolution, and reconstitution. The title The Foreign Department serves as a metaphor for Edwards' life as an artist in exile, documenting two unplanned relocations within twelve months – first from London in pursuit of a relationship, and then between homes in Stockholm as that relationship dissolved. The resulting eleven tracks capture a precognitive search for shifting identity, inadvertently creating a biographical record.
During this period of flux, stripped of his former life, Edwards found the opportunity to reinvent himself not only as a writer but also as a composer. Drawing inspiration from records like Mercury Rev's 'Deserters' Songs' and Leonard Cohen's 'Death of A Ladies Man,' he collaborated with a diverse range of performers to bring his musical vision to life. The album is a warm and remarkably unique collection that blends Edwards' knotty and neurotic lyrics with joyous and uplifting music, creating a perfect balance of melancholic euphoria.
The lead single 'Darkness At Noon' embodies this fusion, grappling with the conflicting and impossible self. Edwards lays bare his thoughts, expressing the desire to be seen while grappling with self-criticism. The track captures the essence of the entire album, showcasing Edwards' enlightenment through a dialectic exploration of his innermost struggles.
In celebration of the album's release, Astrel K will be performing a series of in-store gigs at independent record shops across the UK, starting with Rough Trade West in London on March 8th and concluding at Venus Vinyl in Norwich on March 14th.
Astrel K - The Foreign Department Instore Gigs:Fri, Mar 8th - Rough Trade West, LondonSat, Mar 9th - Jumbo, LeedsSun, Mar 10th - Wax and Beans, BuryMon, Mar 11th - Jacaranda, LiverpoolWeds, Mar 13th - South, SouthendThurs, Mar 14th - Venus Vinyl, Norwich
