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debut single Special Powers - released July 20th

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Special Powers

Are You Finished

Sydney indie rock three-piece Crystal Cities are back, this time with the title track and second single from their forthcoming 3rd LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War. The song reveals a more experimental approach to the band’s songwriting this time around, both in terms of instrumentation and arrangement. Geoff Rana’s first lyrics echo this sentiment of change also, “Hold my cigarette, yeah, I think I need a break from the same old song and dance”.

The synth pads underlying the track create a spacey, cosmic bed which instantly take the listener somewhere they’ve never been whilst listening to a Crystal Cities track. Rana delivers the verse vocals with swagger before the song opens up into a spacious and uplifting chorus. The track then takes a Bowie-esque turn, relaxing into an almost free-time bridge where a haunting theremin-sounding synth provides most of the harmonic support. 

"It is a song about the polarising experience of life; when the universe and all the things that encompass it seem to coalesce in such a way that life appears to be your ally, but then quickly turns and appears to become your enemy; when life seems to gracefully surrender to your will, but then in an instant throws everything it has at you. It’s about the unexpected wins and losses that life can deliver at any given moment. The song takes some unexpected twists and turns to reflect this sentiment."
⁣- Geoff Rana (vocals/guitar/keys)

Lead vocalist and guitarist/keyboardist Geoff Rana has been spending days on end in his self-made studio where he’s been writing, producing and engineering the band’s latest material.

While the band’s previous effort - their sophomore album Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight - was an exercise in hard-hitting alternative rock that could rattle a live audience, the band’s third LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War, feels more explorative and colourful (at least from the two singles released from the band thus far, the first being “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”). 

This new single happens to be the last Crystal Cities song previous drummer Daniel Conte performs on, with new drummer Neel Shukla taking over the drumming duties for the remainder of the tracks on the upcoming album.

Long-time Crystal Cities collaborator Paul Lani (David Bowie, Prince) was once again tapped to handle mixing and mastering duties for the recording.

SInce the band’s formation in 2016 they have released a highly praised EP - Who’s Gonna Save Us Now (2017) - and two critically acclaimed albums - Under The Cold Light of the Moon (2019) and Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight (2021). There is no scheduled release date for the band’s forthcoming third album. 

The band consists of Geoff Rana (lead vocals, guitar, keys), Jared King (Bass, backing vocals), and newest member, Neel Shukla (Drums).

I Should Have Known That This Was War

This feeling sneaks up onto me 
It keeps me guessing I won’t leave 
Never asked for heaven just a little ease 
I feel complete I hope that 

Hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 
I hope that hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 

Sometimes I feel like my only friend 
I get so lonely in my head  
It sets me free to trap again 
I want to leave I hope that  

Hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 
I hope that hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 

Hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 
I hope that hot moms go to heaven  
Hot moms go to heaven 

Hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven 
I hope that hot moms go to heaven 
Hot moms go to heaven

Spotify

Backseat Vinyl - Hot Moms Go to Heaven

Mixing: Sergey Khavro
Drums: Michael Rackaev
Artwork: syhmen (www.behance.net/syhmen)

Alliance

Better Late Than Never

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Every day do you feel like the world’s astray?
Every day do you feel like the world’s in vain?
So let the starts reprise to the seeker and,
give the gutter something to believe in.

And it takes a lifetime to reconcile stress.
Hold a mirror up to what the Banshee said.
You can tumble dice you can’t make it set,
So lose your mind in the midst of the dancing set.

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Each day does a figurine fall away?
Each day does the wind’s sincerity sway?
Let the snowbird sing, dusk ‘til dawn,
And let the soiree fall until a baby’s born.

The ceiling is ripe and it’s ten-pins tall.
Commoners dream to feel the power of it all.
I see those who are thirsty can’t seem to pour.
I want to be something but want to be adored.

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Why’s the night never seem so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Light up in song I was born to dance.

Why’s the night never seemed so long?
Where’s y’gone where’s your heart belong?
It was bang bang it was all bang bang.
Black Country slang is where we like to dance.

Bang Bang

Citizen - Call Your Bluff

Human Spring by Buchanan

Produced by Catherine Marks (Foals, Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie) with additional magic by Tim Cross (Mike Oldfield) the album was completed in various studios on the road, at home and abroad over the past 18 months. Mixed by Andy Baldwin (Midnight Juggernauts, Bjork) and mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche (LCD Soundsystem, Coldplay, Radiohead) the album marks Buchanan's first foray into full length territory. Human Spring is out now.

www.buchananband.com
contact@buchananband.com

Special Powers

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