Nation of Language Release "From The Hill," First New Single Since 2021's A Way Forward LP
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On new single "From The Hill," Nation of Language set the emotional dissolution of friendships against an enthralling arrangement filled with visceral lead vocals, eruptive synths, and a feeling of wistful, unconventional bliss. Out today, the song marks the Brooklyn band's first release of original music since 2021's A Way Forward LP, further expanding the sound that has made them "the most exciting synth-pop act in years" (Paste). Combining complex subject matter with all-consuming catharsis, Nation of Language's blend of new wave, punk and krautrock has been praised as "melancholy and full of longing, yet dance-floor ready" (Washington Post), and they are about to bring "From The Hill" to some of the biggest stages they have ever played this fall.
Listen to "From The Hill," out now on PIAS, and watch the accompanying visual:
As the sixth and latest installment in a series of 7" singles that Nation of Language have been rolling out since 2019, a physical release of "From The Hill" is also available for pre-order today. The limited-edition, vinyl-only pressing includes an exclusive B-Side called "Ground Control," which fans can find at nationoflanguage.com.
"'From The Hill' is a song reflecting on times when friendships fall apart over romantic entanglement, accompanied by the sensation that you're somehow watching it happen from above with a more zoomed-out perspective," says Nation of Language singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Devaney. "It can feel at times like certain parts of life are a story with which you're just following along - the characters enter, they play their role, and then they leave. Often it'll feel sudden and catch you off guard, and other times you're able to see that it's the only way things could have played out despite what you may have wanted. For us, we're in a moment right now where it feels good to get this out into the world. It's one that didn't really feel like it fit the vibe of A Way Forward, nor is it any real indication of where the next record is likely heading. When that situation arrives we like to use these 7" releases to step outside the larger framework that the albums provide and just release a track that we love, so this is us doing that once again."
On the heels of a year that's already seen Nation of Language make their national television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, perform at festivals like Governors Ball, headline NYC's Webster Hall and other shows around the world, the band has just returned to the road for another momentous run. This Saturday, they play a prime, nighttime set on one of the mainstages of Desert Daze's 10th Anniversary, followed by appearances at Austin City Limits Festival, Iceland Airwaves and an extensive international tour that includes stops at Pitchfork Music Festival Berlin, Pitchfork Music Festival Paris and dozens of other dates across Europe and the UK. Find the full list below, and tickets at nationoflanguage.com/events.
In addition to the band's recent cover of The Replacements' "Androgynous," "From The Hill" follows Nation of Language member Aidan Noell's transportive, trance-inducing new take on the classic Detroit techno track, "Sharevari." Accompanied by Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem and The Juan MacLean, Noell's version delivers "thrilling beats and infectious hooks" (V Magazine), as "dark, overlapping synthesizers conjure images of an exclusive underground club" (CLASH).
Ahead of their upcoming California performances later this week, fans can hear Nation of Language in a KCRW session that is also out today, taped live from The Village Studios. Hear new renditions of A Way Forward highlights and more at kcrw.com/music/shows/live-from.
Nation of Language Tour Dates
9/30 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House Concert Hall
10/1 - Perris, CA - Desert Daze Festival
10/7 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
10/8 - Austin, TX - Stubb's Indoors (ACL Aftershow)
10/12 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere - SOLD OUT
10/15 - Asheville, NC - Burial Burnpile
11/3 - Reykjavík, IS - Iceland Airwaves
11/4 - Berlin, DE - Pitchfork Music Festival Berlin (Columbia Theater)
11/6 - Prague, CZ - Underdogs'
11/7 - Vienna, AT - Fluc
11/9 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn
11/10 - Milan, IT - Arci Bellezza
11/11 - Rome, IT - Alcazar
11/12 - Bologna, IT - Locomotiv
11/15 - Paris, FR - Pitchfork Music Festival Paris (La Gaîté Lyrique)
11/16 - The Hague, NL - Paard
11/18 - Cologne, DE - Artheater
11/19 - Groningen, NL - Vera
11/20 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Vredenburg
11/21 - Brighton, GB - Chalk
11/22 - Bristol, GB - The Fleece
11/24 - London, GB - Electric Brixton
11/26 - Birmingham, GB - Space 54
11/27 - Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB - The Cluny
11/29 - Edinburgh, GB - The Caves
11/30 - Glasgow, GB - Classic Grand
12/1 - Manchester, GB - Gorilla
12/2 - Liverpool, GB - Academy
12/3 - Dublin, IE - Whelans
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