The Act: DESPERATE JOURNALIST

The Track: 'UNSYMPATHETIC PARTS 1 & 2'

The Format: DIGISINGLE

The Release Date: JUNE 10TH 2024

The Digital Link: orcd.co/unsympathetic_parts1-2

The Truth: Never knowingly lacking in a strife of surprises, crescendonically deadpan quartet DESPERATE JOURNALIST return to the musical affray with a brand new single, 'Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2' on June 10th. This is the first track to be taken from their fifth album, entitled 'No Hero' and released on September 27th on fierce panda. 'No Hero' is available to pre-order on various coloured vinyl, compact disc and cassette right now from: desperatejournalist.co.uk

As creative re-entries go, 'Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2' is a gleaming, beaming signpost towards a longplayer which sees Desperate Journalist push and pull their original noirish indie sound into newer, ever more nubile shapes and jagged angles without losing that glowering essence rare. So Part 1 gives us a rollicking 'Weird Fishes' groove, some sparkling, spiralling electronics and singer Jo Bevan reeling around the lyrical mountain with the unsettling 'Unsympathetic! Unsympathetic!' mantra while also throwing in caustic blimey lines like: "'Cause when you're on the stage, you really look your age...'Cause no matter who you are, you'll never be a star." Oh yeah, and Part 2 totally changes tack and revels in a frankly gorgeous prog coda. Or, more accurately, in Jo's words...

"This is the first song we wrote specifically as a synth-led track (of which more feature on the album). Lyrically it’s inspired by/fully quotes the John Cassavetes/Gena Rowlands film 'Opening Night' which I had seen for the first time shortly before writing the melody and which had struck me with its simultaneously dreamlike and gritty atmosphere. It seemed an appropriate fit for the swirly yet tense chord progression Rob had come up with. Then I added a vaguely satanic choir chorus, obviously. Part 2 is where everything spirals off into space, oblivion, or some kind of dissociative dreamland."

Desperate Journalist now very much consist of Jo Bevan (vocals, synths and drum machine); Robert Hardy (guitars, synths and piano); Caroline Helbert (drums, drum machines and percussion); Simon Drowner (bass and synths). They will be playing these live shows here:

SEPTEMBER 13TH SOUTHEND Chinnerys
SEPTEMBER 28TH LONDON Rough Trade Instore
SEPTEMBER 30TH BRISTOL Rough Trade instore
OCTOBER 1ST NOTTINGHAM Rough Trade instore
OCTOBER 2ND LIVERPOOL Rough Trade instore
NOVEMBER 21ST BEDFORD Esquires
NOVEMBER 22ND BIRMINGHAM The Dark Horse
NOVEMBER 23RD BRIGHTON Dust
JANUARY 15TH BRISTOL Exchange
JANUARY 16TH NOTTINGHAM Bodega
JANUARY 17TH LEEDS Belgrave Music Hall
JANUARY 18TH MANCHESTER YES
JANUARY 23RD LONDON HIGHBURY The Garage

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