Hauntingly gorgeous, the newest single from Arcane Roots is quite different from their previous material as the band explore a new sonic direction. 

Matter (Revel) is the second single lifted from the band’s upcoming EP, Landslide, set to be out on September 14th.

Chilling and darkly beautiful, the new single is an atmospheric piece that is quite unlike anything else we’ve heard from Arcane Roots. Dominated by pulsing electronic beats and ethereal vocals, the chorus of voices echo off each other to create a reverbing harmony. Floating falsetto creates an airiness to the otherwise dense electronics, and there’s an emotionally raw feeling to the vocals as they grow in the chorus. The video reflects the mood of the track, and as ominous electronics engulf you, the visuals will draw you in and accompany you in the feeling of uneasiness.

Vocalist and guitarist Andrew Groves says:

Matter was one of the first tracks to be written for Melancholia Hymns, all the way back in 2015. It was always intended to be the second track on the record and, thankfully, it arrived almost fully formed and perfectly exemplifying the heavier aspects of the album. Lyrically, it grew out of the bitterness & resentment I was harbouring against the political climate at the time, and to say that things have changed since then would be somewhat of an understatement. Now, given the chance to re-work it & finally release the (previously dormant) video, I wanted it to feel like the spinning descent into despair & disparity that all but surrounds us on a daily basis through our screens. I wanted the production to reflect this, like a dark fantasy of crawling through the filth, our hearts & minds consumed with revenge and retribution, like a mirror to the very injustices we’d seen, as we became more like the aggressors. Programmed at my home studio, and inspired by artists like Sevdaliza & Björk, the space and simplicity became something both paramount and punishing while we wrangled with each sound to keep it feeling like it was just bubbling beneath the surface.

The video (co-directed by Olly Jelly & myself and produced by Sophia Groves) leant itself perfectly to the even darker twist we desired and, though shot over a year previously, it’s linear narrative inspired by Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth & Ophelia, remained the perfect base from which to treat and contort the footage into the surreal nightmare we imagined. Her gradual acceptance of the darker desires of her character and eventual metamorphosis, echoes that of the darker aspects of humanity and our susceptibility to despondence, oppression & xenophobia.

Catch Arcane Roots on tour at the following dates.

August

18 – Bristol, ArcTanGent Festival

31 – Gloucester, The Guildhall

September

02 – Tunbridge Wells, The Forum

08 – Corby, Rocked Up Hootenanny Festival

October

15 – Manchester, Gorilla

16 – London, Hoxton Hall

17 – Leicester, The Cookie

19 – Brighton, Rialto Theatre

20 – Bristol, St Thomas The Martyr

22 – Newcastle, Think Tank

23 – Edinburgh, The Caves