Crooked Colours Tomorrows

One of Australia's most acclaimed and beloved indie-dance trios, Crooked Colours have long been earmarked as the country's most consistently awe-inspiring and flourishing exports.  With a near-decade of multifaceted experience behind them, from their debut AIR nominated-LP 'Vera', ARIA Dance Chart number 1 album 'Langata', and multiple national headline tours, the Perth-based band has naturally developed an aptitude for producing dance music that inspires a wave of emotional vulnerability. Now, the industry-admired trio present their most well-rounded and emotionally driven body of work yet, 'Tomorrows', a manifestation of sonic and personal maturation for Phil Slabber, Leon Debaughn, and Liam Merrett-Park. The 13-track album presents a sense of reflection on the trying times of the past few years, while also establishing optimism for what is to come. Solidifying their position as one of the world's hottest electronic acts, 'Tomorrows' fuses delicate acoustic instrumentation, evocative vocals, upbeat lyricism, and dancefloor-ready synth transmissions to create a dynamic, shape-shifting sound all of their own. Crooked Colours have more than established themselves as electronica heavyweights on the local and international scene, and today cement their claim with their third studio album 'Tomorrows', out now via Sweat It Out and Atlantic Records.
 
The trio went on to explain the album's premise while touching on the creative process, saying "The title track 'Tomorrows' and the songs we ended up collating for this record are a reflection of us as a group, coming to terms with how much the landscape had changed. We realised how hard we had been pushing ourselves in pursuit of tomorrow's success without taking a moment to appreciate how far we had come. We also didn't want to dwell on the hand we had been dealt and try to include a message of hope into these songs. As much as 'Tomorrows' is a statement on what had been driving us in the past it is also us saying that we are looking forward to what is coming in the future and moving past this difficult period in our lives. From a personal level, we have grown a lot while writing this record and we couldn't be more proud of what we have created. Musicians, creatives and everyone have been through a lot over the past three years. This album is to let all of our fans, friends and family who have helped us know that we are still here, we are fighting and we are really looking forward to what's coming tomorrow."
 
The album kicks off with the idealistic introduction to Crooked Colour's distinctive soundscape established over the past few years in 'Love Language'. The critically commended single offers a shimmering three minutes of indulgently rich dance-pop, built around that benevolent feeling of establishing a deep-rooted language, simply unique to a distinctive pair of lovers. Next up is the recently released sun-drenched 'Holiday', a dance-floor-ready ode to escapism and that ecstatic feeling of adventure. Following is the buzzy, synth-pop gem 'Feel It, an opportune representation of Crooked Colours' enigmatic and energetic sound that flourishes with a glitch-structured groove. 'Homecoming' is the band's ballad to being away from home and the yearning to return to loved ones, an organic and atmospheric offering that would find its abode on a fervour-filled dance floor.  Following is 'No Sleep', a song serving as a reminder to not take people for granted, incorporating sultry melodies, downtempo sound design, and echoing swells. 'Don't Give Up On Me' is an emotional plea to a loved one that incorporates lush textures and centres on lyrical structure so as to not take away from the emotionally-charged sentiment of the song. Next is the intoxicating 'Falling', a seductive indietronica production amplified by dynamic vocals, centred around the attempt to navigate through the uncertainty in the unpredictable times coming after the pandemic hit. 'Circles' incorporates funk-fuelled flicks and accentuates the band's talent for layering melancholic melodies over dance-driven production, with relatable lyricism focussed on identifying when to let go of a destructive relationship. 'Moving On' acts as a sonic sequel to 'Circles' with its bass-driven atmospherics and vocal empathy towards understanding that letting go of such relationships is the right move to make. The title track for the body of the work 'Tomorrows' epitomises the premise of the album, with its tension-building introduction before it breaks into an uplifting and groove-filled breakdown, tailor-made for Crooked Colours live shows. For 'Light Year', the album is taken in a different sonic direction, opting for trap beats to amplify the rap bars of multi-Platinum certified artist Masked Wolf and the hip-hop/soul vocals of Jasiah, illustrating the versatility of the trio. Further showcasing their multifarious production, 'Still Here' presents a fragile sentiment paired with heavier dance elements, and layered distortion, to evoke a chaotic atmosphere and bolster the angst in lyricism centred around heartbreak and the struggles of moving forward. One of the first songs to be finished on the album in 'Fight Night' signals a befitting finish to an album pervaded with electronic ballads and intimate dancefloor moments. The closing track emanates a sense of hopeful anticipation for the future, a theme imbued throughout the album.

 
Crooked Colours have steadily risen to one of the world's most consistent and energetic Australian exports. Fueled by tracks such as 2017's breakthrough smash 'Flow', and later with singles 'Do It Like You, and 'Hold On', the Western Australia trio has quickly racked up over 200 million streams worldwide. They have earned a dedicated following and have become cornerstones of the Australian dance scene, as is reflected by their consistent support from the likes of triple j and streaming platforms. The trio have put dedication into their energetic and unstoppable live act which has seen them sell out countless headline shows, and tour across Australia and multiple continents. Crooked Colours cemented themselves as highlights of some of the best local and international festivals including Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, Beyond The Valley, Groovin The Moo, and multi-day US attraction Bonnaroo Music Festival.  
The band will celebrate 'Tomorrows' with an epic world tour. North American headline dates get underway September 29 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, in Brooklyn NY,  and then continue through late October. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.crookedcoloursmusic.com.

 

 

Photo credit: Matsu / @matsufotos