HOOPLA BLUE are set to unleash their debut album ‘Pl(^)nted’ – pronounced ‘planted’ – an exhilarating 11-track record that sees the Birmingham outfit confront themes of identity and settlement – both generationally and geographically. Sonically, ‘Pl(^)nted’ fuses traditional and electronic elements to create an atmosphere that explores the boundaries of art-rock, space-pop and experimental, as heard with their singles ‘Sa(sea)lt’, ‘Scour’ and ‘Fire Alarm’.
Supported by PRS Foundation, ‘Pl(^)nted’ was self-produced at The Cottage, a remote 18th Century residential studio perched on the edge of Loch Fyne in the Scottish Highlands (used by The Twilight Sad and GoGo Penguin) and has been mastered at London’s prestigious Metropolis Studios by Felix Davis (Lana Del Rey, The Big Moon, HMLTD). The limited edition 12” vinyl eco-friendly run uses up leftover coloured pellets from previous vinyl runs, producing a randomised ‘lucky-dip’ colour vinyl. This cuts down on waste and ensures each record is unique in its colour and effect.
Bookended by the reflective space-pop-twinged opener ‘Walking in Tongue’ and the achingly melodic yet roaring closer ‘A Gnome’, it becomes apparent that this record pushes way beyond any expectations of the band, made possible only when the artist maintains full creative control of their recording process.
It was this unlimited creative freedom that resulted in so many of the record’s most inspiring and idiosyncratic moments, whether that be the raw, pulsating drive of ‘Houseplant’, the synthetic yet vulnerable essence of ‘Fire Alarm’, the whirlwind horror-pop texture of ‘Sa(sea)lt’, or the thundering, raucous paranoia of ‘W.A.S.P’.
Taking inspiration from the delicate soundscapes of Grizzly Bear, the textured energy of Broken Social Scene, and the tender, introspective core of Ghostpoet, ‘Pl(^)nted’ ruminates on all the insecurities found in the human condition when we question the foundations on which we operate, the influence of the choices we make and the expectations we repeatedly bow down to as a species.
HOOPLA BLUE are Adam Tomes, Thomas Hewson, Leighton Rees, Thomas Rees and Sam Wilson. The group has shared the stage with the likes of Mac DeMarco, The Flaming Lips, Algiers, Public Service Broadcasting, Let’s Eat Grandma, Lowly, Mothers, Blaenavon and Wolf Alice. HOOPLA BLUE have previously collaborated with BBC Two’s Springwatch to soundtrack a segment and in 2019 their remix of Matters’ ‘Mauveine C’ premiered at Flatpack Film Festival and was released via Static Caravan Records (Tuung, Hannah Peel).
‘PL(^)NTED’ PRE-ORDER:https://tinyurl.com/HBPlanted‘PL(^)NTED’ TRACKLISTING: 1. Walking in Tongue 2. Scour (Official Video) 3. Swoon 4. Houseplant 5. Fire Alarm (Official Video) 6. Mischievous Gallery 7. Wildflower 8. W.A.S.P 9. Sa(sea)lt (Official Video) 10. Powerplant 11. A Gnome
‘PL(^)NTED’ LAUNCH SHOWS: 17th April: Old Blue Last, London 24th April: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
HOOPLA BLUE ONLINE: