After the incredibly turbulent 2020, Deaf Havana was ready to call it quits, when Matthew and James Veck-Gilodi decided to keep writing and releasing music under the band’s name as a two-piece. After holding themselves up in a studio for months on end, the now two-piece came out with their newest release The Present is a Foreign Land.
Within moments of the album opening, listeners are treated to a great blend of Alt-Rock and dark Indie-Rock with the likes Pocari Sweat and 19 Dreams. Still, it’s I Put You Through Hell where the release truly starts to stand out thanks to the great vocal performances and atmospheric riffs that are both incredibly catchy while having a darker tone that creates a beautiful dissonance between the vocals and instrumentals.
As the album moves along, we see more of this creativity, be it from Nevermind’s absolutely gorgeous blend of acoustic guitar and orchestral breaks, Trying Falling’s constant building to a great crescendo end or the heavily pop-inspired Someone/Somewhere featuring IDER that can only be described as a melancholic club banger.
My favourite moments of the release though are when the band aren’t scared of going a little heavier, such as the explosive chorus’ of Help or the entirety of the album’s title track, The Present Is A Foreign Land which is very reminiscent of modern Pop-Punk. Unfortunately, from here, the rest of the album just sounds like another version of the songs that came earlier in the track listing.
Despite a closing that left a bit to be desired, The Present is a Foreign Land is still a great release that shows the dedication of the Veck-Gilodi brothers to the band, the fans and to music as a whole with some truly great moments of experimentation and a great evolution of the band’s sound. If you’re a fan of the more experimental side of Pop/Alt Rock, you’ll absolutely love this release.
Review: Dan Stapleton
The Present is a Foreign Land arrives Friday, July 15th
Deaf Havana have risen through the ranks during their time as a band, earning themselves coveted accolades including three Top 10 albums in the Official Charts with Rituals, All These Countless Nights, and Old Souls. 2018 saw them play their biggest headline show to date at Brixton Academy, alongside appearances at festivals such as Reading & Leeds, Mad Cool and Pukkelpop. Since then, Deaf Havana have played a sold out German headline tour, their biggest UK headline tour and their debut festival headline slot, at 2000 Trees.
Out Store Album Tour
15-Jul-22 Kingston Pryzm w/Banquet Records
16-Jul-22 Liverpool Phase One w/Jacaranda Records
17-Jul-22 Leeds Key Club w/Crash records
19-Jul-22 Sheffield Church w/Beartree Records
20-Jul-22 Southampton Joiners w/Vinilo Records
21-Jul-22 Brighton Resident Records
Headline Tour
8-Nov-22 Cardiff Tramshed
10-Nov-22 Nottingham Rock City
11-Nov-22 Manchester Academy
12-Nov-22 London Roundhouse
14-Nov-22 Glasgow SWG3
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