Oxbow have spent much time away, in which they’ve only become more beloved, with the records King of the Jews and The Narcotic Story being continually re-discovered within alternative music scenes. It’s been six years since they released an album, and today, they announce the upcoming release of Love’s Holiday via Ipecac Recordings on the 21st July, and release the album’s first single. Gaps between Oxbow albums have been as long as ten years, and (most will agree that) the past few years have been particularly long, which will make this record all the more precious.
The first single “1000 Hours” is a heartfelt and not ‘too strange’ track that won’t lose you the aux cord rights, but has all the hallmarks of an Oxbow song, taking us straight back to that surrealist-cowboy-ranch vibe. With a soulful vocal performance by singer Eugene Robinson, the track mulls the depth of love and family. He explains that the songs on the new album are “a collection of music that I sang to my babies and then wrote guitar parts for, and brought to the band as, Oxbow songs”.
Similar to what we’ve heard on 2017’s Thin Black Duke, Oxbow have retained the breadth of their sound by thoroughly involving classical instrumentation within their obtuse rock-context, but now expand this with a large choir. This is unmissable . Furthermore, Love’s Holiday will feature Kristin Hayter (Lingua Ignota) on the track “Lovely Murk“.
Love’s Holiday releases on 21st July through Ipecac Recordings, and a set of pre-save and pre-order links can be found here.
TRACKLIST:
1. DEAD AHEAD
2. ICY WHITE & CRYSTALLINE
3. LOVELY MURK
4. 1000 HOURS
5. ALL GONE
6. THE NIGHT THE ROOM STARTED BURNING
7. ” “
8. MILLION DOLLAR WEEKEND
9. THE SECOND TALK
10. GUNWALE