JOHN Announce New Album; Watch Video For “Service Stationed”

Photo by Paul Grace

A cryptically-named duo JOHN – comprised of John Newton (drums, lead vocals) and Johnny Healey (guitar, backing vocals) – announce their fourth album, A Life Diagrammatic. The follow-up to 2021’s Nocturnal Manoeuvres LP, which broke new ground for the band by crashing the top 75 of the UK album chart, it arrives Sept 22nd via Brace Yourself and Pets Care Records. Its release in September will be accompanied by a tour of UK record shops in the week following release as well as the band’s debut North American live run happening throughout October.

News of A Life Diagrammatic‘s imminent arrival is accompanied by new single ‘Service Stationed‘ – which features guest vocals from Leona Farrugia of the ever-rising Anglo-Maltese quartet ĠENN – a propulsive example of JOHN at the peak of their powers, building an inescapable atmospheric presence from undulating guitar riffs, pounding drums and Newton’s distinct guttural bark, all packaged in a neat three-minute, shining exterior.

Recorded by Tom Hill at The Bookhouse in South London, mixed by Seth Manchester (METZ, Big Brave, Battles) and mastered by Frank Arkwright (Arab Strap, Squarepusher, Autechre) with the aim of merging the powerful live presence of the band whilst also honing in on some of the more varied dynamics at play. “We wanted to further explore the space and ambience of our instrumentation,” says Newton. “To offer an album that deliberately pushes and pulls in a multitude of directions throughout its duration.”

The duo teased the album in April with single ‘Trauma Mosaic‘, another pristine example of the band’s subtle evolution in recent years as they continue to redefine and expand the parameters of what a guitar and drums two-piece can be. Driven forward by a crushed drum sample that began as a playful experiment, it finds Newton layering his vocals in an almost chant-like manner before cyclical guitars erupt in classic JOHN fashion and we’re reminded of the primal power the pair possess. It received support from publications including Stereogum, Loud and Quiet, The New Cue, Brooklyn Vegan, Vanyaland and more, as well as support across BBC 6Music and Radio 1.

News of ‘Trauma Mosaic’ was accompanied by word of the duo’s North American live bow taking place across October of this year as they head out on a near month-long run through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, New York and many more in between. Having developed a reputation as one of the most uncompromisingly powerful propositions on the UK live circuit over the past decade – and one with a fiercely devoted cult following – it marks a thoroughly well-deserved next step for one of the country’s most beloved indie-rock institutions. For those closer to home, you can also catch the band on a run of UK in-stores across the last week of September. Please find a full touring itinerary further below.

A Life Diagrammatic follows on from the band’s recent ‘Theme New Bond Junior‘ b/w ‘Hopper on the Dial‘ single which reached #1 on the UK vinyl singles chart earlier this year as well as seeing ‘Theme New Bond Junior’ playlisted at BBC 6Music and KEXP. JOHN’s last album proper was 2021’s widely acclaimed Nocturnal Manoeuvres which had multiple singles reach the A-list at BBC 6Music and garnered praise at press from titles including The Guardian, NPR, DIY, The Observer, Loud and Quiet, The New Cue, Upset Magazine and many more.

For more on JOHN, head to: https://www.johntheband.co.uk/

UPCOMING SHOWS

July 8th | Bordeaux, FR – Jalles House Rock Festival

Sept 22nd | Southsea, UK – Pie & Vinyl (In-Store)

Sept 23rd | Brighton, UK – Resident (In-Store)

Sept 24th | Bristol, UK – Rough Trade Bristol (In-Store)

Sept 28th | Kingston, UK – Banquet Records (In-Store)

Sept 29th | Nottingham, UK – Rough Trade Nottingham (In-Store)

Sept 30th | London, UK – Rough Trade East (In-Store)

Oct 3rd | Phoenix, AZ – Linger Longer Lounge

Oct 4th | Los Angeles, CA – The Echo

Oct 5th | Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room

Oct 7th | San Francisco, CA – Brick and Mortar

Oct 10th | Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern

Oct 11th | Portland, OR – Mission Theater

Oct 13th | Salt Lake City, UT – The DLC

Oct 14th | Denver, CO – Skylark Lounge

Oct 17th | St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway

Oct 18th | Chicago, IL – Schubas

Oct 20th | Toronto, ON – The Baby G

Oct 21st | Columbus, OH – The Basement

Oct 24th | Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie

Oct 25th | Washington, DC – DC9

Oct 26th | Brooklyn, NY – St. Vitus

Jan 5th-7th | Bognor Regis, UK – Rockaway Beach Festival

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com