Gang of Youths provide a final taster of the album angel in realtime. before its release on Friday, sharing the brand new track “spirit boy”. The band’s last single is playlisted at Radio 1 and Radio 2, was picked as Greg James’ Tune of the Week and praised by Jack Saunders as “one of the most stunning examples of just how good their new record is going to be.” The band’s current rising status has also included a string of sold-out headline shows, an arena tour with Sam Fender, and a NME cover feature.
The album features all the big moments that have soundtracked Gang of Youths’ rise, including “the angel of 8th ave.”, “unison”, “the man himself”, “tend the garden” and “in the wake of your leave”. The album’s previously unreleased tracks provide plenty more, with an experimental hybrid of contemporary American minimalism, and electronica on “you in everything”, the 2-step and big beat rhythms of “the kingdom is within you”, and the cathartic conclusion provided by the sweeping, multi-textured “goal of the century”.
New single “spirit boy” is the beating heart of angel in realtime. The song features Shane McLean, a musician specialising in Taonga Pūoro (the traditional instrumentation and music culture of the Māori people) and contributes spoken word. Le’aupepe recalls:
“We were fortunate to have Shane McLean, an outstanding musician and Taonga Pūoro facilitator, write and perform a spoken verse in Te Reo Māori. A wonderful Māori woman performed “rongoā” on me — a sacred healing practice. It was a transformative experience, and I’m still not quite sure why. There was a moment when this wonderful woman looked at me and said “you’re a wairua boy” — wairua in Te Reo means something like “spirit”.
angel in realtime. is available to pre-order here. The album includes other singles such as Top 10 US Radio hit “the angel of 8th ave.”, and “the man himself” and the most recent track “in the wake of your leave”. A beautifully animated zoetrope vinyl format of the album sold-out within days, but collectors and hardcore fans can still grab editions including a double-white vinyl with an alternate sleeve from key indie stores, or a selection of bundles and merch which are packaged with a signed art card.
Gang of Youths will commence a headline UK tour in March. Tickets are on sale now and a full rundown of dates can be found below.
MARCH 2022
3rd – Ireland, Dublin, Button Factory (SOLD OUT)
5th – UK, Newcastle, Riverside
6th – UK, Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom
8th – UK, Leeds, Beckett University
9th – UK, Bristol, O2 Academy
12th – UK, Birmingham, O2 Institute 2 (SOLD OUT)
13th – UK, Manchester, Albert Hall
15th – UK, London, O2 Academy Brixton
