The Cheap Thrills release politically charged indie anthem ‘looking’

The Cheap Thrills have released their brand new single ‘looking’, the latest song to be taken from their highly anticipated debut album Keep Cheap out September 18^th.

‘looking’ is a soaring politically charged indie anthem where its harmony rich and synth laden chorus is paired with a swaggering lyrical flow from frontman Lewis Pike. This flow develops to hit increasingly harder, building into powerful spoken word reflection reminiscent of the likes of Jamie T, which is fuelled by frustration, yet determined to enjoy life regardless of societies pressures.

Regarding the single Pike says, “This is consciousness spoken word which is introspective and also imaginary. I imagine a world where I’m a pensioner stuck in a rut, under tory rule. It ends with the realisation this is all up to me and it’s where I’m at mentally rather than where I am in the world.”

Featuring and directed by actor Mike Noble (The City Is Ours, Dirty Business, Help), the ‘looking’ video finds Mike searching for something within the mundanity of everyday life. He wanders through the familiar streets of Liverpool, drawn towards something unknown, before eventually finding himself in a pub where The Cheap Thrills appear on the TV delivering an epic choir-backed performance.

Regarding the video Pike continues, “It was great being able to work with Mike on it. He grew up in the same area as us and went to the same high school, so it’s been brilliant watching him grow as an actor and seeing everything he’s gone on to do. I sent him ‘looking’ and got a text back saying he loved it and wanted to write the music video for it. His creative vision and work ethic were both refreshing and inspiring, and fitted right in with our ‘Keep Cheap’ mentality of just getting things done. It was also beautiful to watch a master at work. He nailed the spoken word bit better than me, and I bloody wrote it!”

It features further singles including ‘hairs’ which opens the album with bright synth-laden keys, while ‘run’ shimmers with yearning for clarity and escape, its cheery jangled riffs sitting between the likes of The Libertines and Bloc Party while the upbeat sounds juxtapose its darker themes.

The propulsive ‘reborn’ shot them onto the indie airwaves with champions Steve Lamacq at BBC 6 Music as well as John Kennedy at Radio X, while the release of ‘codependence’ skyrocketed them to scouse hero status as the soundtrack for Liverpool FC’s European kit campaign. Building on this multimillion streamed hit they solidified their standing in the city with the release of ‘walton vale’, a homage to the street that birthed The Cheap Thrills while also analysing wider problems in society.

As Keep Cheap arrives to cement The Cheap Thrills as Liverpool’s most important new export, the album stands as statement of a band ready to take on the world.

KEEP CHEAP TRACK LISTING

1. hairs
2. walton vale
3. looking
4. run
5. reborn
6. air beathing mammals
7. take things back
8. codependence
9. electric fences
10. last orders
11. something for nothing
12. paranoia
13. calypso blue

The Cheap Thrills have built their fervent fanbase as a thrilling live act, they have performed to overflowing tents at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Y Not and many more while their headline shows are monumental occasions.

Earlier this month they played their largest headline show to a capacity crowd of over 2000 fans at Liverpool’s Mountford Hall, and their forthcoming headline tour in October is following suit with shows around the country selling out rapidly.

Ahead of this they will play 110 Above festival tomorrow, and support The Fratellis at the end of this month. The Cheap Thrills will also be making instore live appearances across the country in September following the album release.

Full dates are listed below and tickets are available via thecheapthrills.co.uk/live

THE CHEAP THRILLS TOUR DATES
Aug 22^nd – Atherstone, 110 Above Festival
Aug 28^th – Wakefield, Tileyard North *
Sep 18^th – Liverpool, Jacaranda Baltic **
Sep 19^th – Liverpool, Jacaranda Baltic **
Sep 20^th – Liverpool, Jacaranda **
Sep 22^nd – Leeds, Jumbo Records **
Sep 23^rd – London, Rough Trade East **
Sep 24^th – Bury, Wax & Beans **
Oct 7^th – Glasgow, SWG3 Poetry Club – SOLD OUT
Oct 8^th – Newcastle, Think Tank?
Oct 9^th – Manchester, Manchester Academy
Oct 10^th – Nottingham, The Bodega Social Club – SOLD OUT
Oct 11^th – Leeds, Oporto – SOLD OUT
Oct 13^th – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Oct 14^th – Bristol, The Croft
Oct 15^th – Southampton, Heartbreakers – SOLD OUT
Oct 16^th – London, Barfly Camden – SOLD OUT

* supporting The Fratellis
** album instore