Matthew Amos
Hey, I’m a photographer and writer based between Reading and Cornwall. I’ve been going to gigs since my 2016 indie phase (which admittedly I’m still in) but also love rock and punk. I love taking photographs which capture the atmosphere of live music.
Divorce release surprise deluxe edition of album ‘Drive To Goldenhammer‘ including newest single ‘Wendolene‘
Nottingham four-piece Divorce have returned with an unexpected gift in the form of an extended version of their acclaimed debut album ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’ featuring early demos, BBC Radio sessions and three brand new songs, including July’s ‘O Calamity’,and latest single ‘Wendolene’, for which a music video has also been shared.
Whilst previous single ‘O Calamity’ was about the past, ‘Wendolene’ is about the future, a subtle foreshadowing of what listeners could expect from upcoming projects. It begins to move away from the world created in ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’. On discussing the new single, the band stated “whilst we tried to maintain the surrealism of the record this edges into something darker than most of our debut record”.
‘Wendolene’ is a track that demonstrates the band’s fusion of pop-tinged indie-rock and Americana in a brooding light. It is a roller-coaster, soft and gentle at times, with moments where Tiger Cohen-Towell’s and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow’s soaring vocals, drums and jangly guitar tones punch through. Fluttering keys and classic chiming indie-rock guitar instrumentals (think of those found on Cub by Wunderhorse) are also interspersed throughout the track.
For those who haven’t already figured out, the track’s title pays tribute to Wendolene Ramsbottom, who first appeared in the Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave (yes, the one who upset Wallace by refusing to come in for cheese because it would bring her out in a rash). Divorce recorded the song to pictures of Wendolene and Cilla Black, which is evident in the vocal delivery. The band’s love for the claymation franchise continues in the playful music video with a niche reference to the film- see if you can spot it!
The band are taking the deluxe album for a spin, starting with a run of shows in the USA in the coming weeks, before returning to the UK for a tour in November and December.
Listen to ‘Wendolene‘ here:
Catch Divorce at the following:
Sept 17 – The Rockwell, Somerville, MA, USA
Sep 18 – Elsewhere Zone 1, Kings County, NY, USA
Sep 19 – Pie Shop, Washington, DC, USA
Sep 20 – MilkBoy, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sep 22 – The Sound Garage, Toronto, ON, CA
Sep 25 – Schubas, Chicago, IL, USA
Sep 27 – Baba Yaga, Seattle, WA, USA
Sep 29 – Brick & Mortar Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA
Oct 02 – Gold-Diggers, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Nov 28 – La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, UK
Nov 29 – The Grove, Newcastle, UK
Dec 03 – The Globe, Cardiff, UK
Dec 04 – Papillon, Southampton, UK
Dec 05 – Arts Centre, Norwich, UK
Dec 06 – The Lido, Margate, UK
Dec 09 – Crookes Social Club, Sheffield, UK
Dec 10 – Academy 2, Manchester, UK
Dec 11 – Trinity Centre, Bristol, UK
Dec 13 – Rock City, Nottingham, UK