Editors have todays announced details of their forthcoming seventh album EBM, to be released via Play It Again Sam on September 23rd. The new album sees the band swell to a six piece outfit, with new member Benjamin John Power – better known as Blanck Mass – joining as a full time member last month. The album’s first single ‘Heart Attack’ showed a first glimpse of the band’s new material, which sees a much more experimental electronic sound dominating the mix.
New single ‘Karma Climb’ sees the band treading on slightly more familiar territory with an anthemic guitar prominent early on, but Power’s influence on proceedings emerge as the track evolves, turning it into a full-bodied electro rock monster. Speaking on the new single, frontman Tom Smith said: “It’s about hedonistic escapism, not only from the world generally, but also from what people think of you.” See the uplifting live video below.
A band that pride themselves on never standing still, EBM sees Editors pushing the boundaries of their sound further than before, and producing their most leftfield material to date. The title of the album is an acronym of Editors and Blanck Mass, suggesting the collaboration will be a temporary arrangement; It’s also a nod to Electronic Body Music, a hugely influential sound that originated in the 1980s. Bands like Nitzer Ebb, Front 242 and DAF were at the forefront of this dark extention of Post Punk and Electronica.
Power’s addition to the band meant that, for the first time, the song structures weren’t coming from Smith, with him and further band members Justin Lockey, Elliott Williams, Russell Leetch and Ed Lay receiving files to tinker with and flesh out in the studio when they eventually regrouped. “Ben has certainly been a shot of adrenaline in our creative process,” says Tom. “The songs are so immediate, and in your face.”
The six piece embark on a European tour in October and have added a six date tour for the UK and Ireland in early 2023. A commanding live experience, the tours give Editors the chance to test the new tracks that were fully intended to come to life in the live arena, as Power explains: “There is a strong physicality to this record. EBM started its life with the intention of connecting with people and filling a very physical space. There is also however an emotional physicality running throughout; An urgency and a sense of panic. An unease. Even in its more tender moments there is a yearning for connection.”
Confirmed dates are:
JUNE
17th: O Son Do Camino – Spain
24th: Mallorca Live – Spain
JULY
9th: Mad Cool – Spain
14th: Electric Castle – Romania
19th: Balena Festival – Italy
30th: Low Festival – Spain
AUGUST
5th: Wide Skies and Butterflies – Norfolk
14th: Hear Hear Festival – Belgium
28th: Victorious Festival – Southsea
OCTOBER
5th: Esch-sur-Alzette – Luxembourg
6th: RTM Stage – Rotterdam Ahoy, Netherlands
7th: Vega – Copenhagen, Denmark
9th: Edel-Optics Arena – Hamburg, Germany
10th: Haus Auensee – Leipzig, Germany
12th: Club Studio – Krakow, Poland
13th: Max-Schmeling-Halle – Berlin, Germany
15th: Olympia – Paris, France
16th: Les Docks – Lausanne, Switzerland
17th: Gasometer – Vienna, Austria
19th: Volkshaus – Zurich, Switzerland
20th: Fabrique – Milan, Italy
21st: Unipol – Bologna, Italy
23rd: Zenith – Munich, Germany
24th: Mitsubishi Electric Halle – Dusseldorf, Germany
JANUARY 2023
25th: Rock City – Nottingham
27th: Academy – Manchester
29th: Barrowland – Glasgow
30th: National Stadium – Dublin
FEBRUARY 2023
1st: Troxy – London
2nd: Marble Factory – Bristol
Photo: Rahi Rezvani
