Last year, we featured Tilbury in our luistertip for the Icelanders’ debut album (see here) and now we are pleased to share the news that the next record is pretty much done and is just receiving the final touches!
Tilbury’s second album will be released on 29 October (on Record Records). In recent weeks, the first single taken from the new record has been unleashed on the world, as a tasty morsel of what is to come. ‘Northern Comfort’, shared below, has a recognisable synth sound and perhaps a slightly darker edge.
In advance of the new album’s release, Nordic Vibes managed to chat to the lead singer Þormóður Dagsson to find out a bit more about the new album. Interesting to discover that it has a weather-related theme running through it. The first time I was in Reykjavik, I remember chatting to an Icelander who had lived in Amsterdam for some time – and of the Dutch weather, she described it as a ‘bit nothing’. It is certainly true that you really are aware of the weather in Iceland (especially if there’s the tail-end of a hurricane passing by). I don’t suppose you often get to see a lone spaceman wandering through the snow though…
How did you feel about the positive responses to your first album Excorcise? (what with it being the highest-selling album on gogoyoko.com)
It was a real boost for us and perhaps the main reason that we went straight to making another one. If the response hadn’t been so welcoming I don’t think we had been that eager. The recognition was really important.
Some tracks on your first album had a bit of a meaty edge (tenderloin/filet mignon) – any particular reason?
Not really. Some of us are on a gluten free diet, but I don’t think we have any vegetarians – not that any of us are real carnivores. For some reason, it’s good to play songs about meat. It can be juicy, raw, bloody or overdone. It can also be tender. It’s a dynamic subject. It has many flavours and can be sliced down and chewed.
Was it a natural progression to write a new album in such a pretty short time frame?
We were really happy with the response to our first album so I guess we wanted to preserve that excitement and energy and go straight to another album. We also had a lot of new material coming up when we started playing on a regular basis after the release of our album.
What was the process for writing/recording this new album?
The new songs are much more a collaborative work than the songs on the first album. We had more time to mould them at rehearsals before we went on to record them. The songs are mainly originated from rough ideas that I had recorded on to my laptop at home. There are also a few songs that came from jam sessions in the recording studio and those songs are perhaps the ones I like the most.
Were things different the second time around?
It was very similar. I remember having conversations with Kiddi (synthesizers and producer) before we started on the new album, where we talked about doing it ‘right’ this time; incisive and fruitful sessions, great time management and so on. But we ended up doing it almost exactly the same.
Was there anyone you wanted to work with in particular, whether in the studio/producing?
I have always admired the work of sound engineer Aron Þór Arnarsson who has worked on many great Icelandic albums throughout the years (Kimono, Trabant, Of Monsters and Men, The Funerals and many more). When I heard the new Hjaltalín album, Enter 4, where he was sound engineer, I was really excited about working with him on our new album. And fortunately he was available and I’m really happy with the outcome.
Does the new record have a theme running through it?
The theme on the new album is the Icelandic weather, a truly dynamic and influential creature. It’s overwhelming and powerful and can keep you locked in for months. But when it’s nice, it’s really nice. It’s a strange and twisted relationship. My brother, Hugleikur Dagsson, is responsible for the illustrations on the album; he also made the drawings for our debut album. This time he did a drawing of an isolated astronaut treading snow.
Should we read anything into the fact that the band likes to use cartoon imagery?
I think it’s easier and fun to use the cartoons. I remember us doing a photo shoot and it was quite difficult. Everybody was getting tired and annoyed after 5 minutes.
What is your favourite cartoon? & which Icelandic band do you think will next appear in the Simpsons?
I have to say Svanur, a character from a new cartoon series, Hulli, which is showing on the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. I would really want to see the band Sykur in the Simpsons.
How are you feeling in advance of the record’s release?
I’m a both relieved that the album is ready and also bit nervous. But I’m really happy with the outcome.
What do the next few months look like for you, musically or otherwise?
Next up is Icelandic Airwaves. We are really looking forward to that. Then we will have a release concert in late November and hopefully tour in mainland Europe next year.
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So, watch this space for news on the new album! There’s also going to be a video released for the next single; and in the meantime, here’s a video for a track from the first album.
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