The Farm have announced details of their first new album in three decades, ‘Let The Music Take Control’. Find out the details below, as well as the new single ‘Forever & Ever’.
Set for release on May 2 via Modern Sky, the new LP has been written and performed by all five members from the Liverpool band’s original ‘heyday’, and marks their first since 1994’s ‘Hullabaloo’.
The band formed in 1984, but broke into the original indie/dance crossover scene for their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Spartacus’, which arrived in 1991 and featured classic indie singles ‘Groovy Train’ and ‘All Together Now’.
Members signalled their comeback earlier this year when they self-released single ‘Feel The Love’, and was further concreted by a slot at this year’s instalment of Glastonbury, where they played the Leftfield Stage.
As well as announcing the new album, The Farm have also shared a new preview in the form of single ‘Forever & Ever’.
With its upbeat, euphoric sound, the track harnesses the band’s signature blend of indie and dance. “You won’t tell me/ you won’t tell me about it/ You’re all I want/ You’re all I really need,” frontman Peter Hooton sings in the opening lines, before erupting into the feel-good chorus: “Forever and ever/ Take a good look at me/ These are the days that’ll set you free/ Take a good look at me”.
“When I first heard the new music in rehearsals, I knew I had to match the infectious nature of the music, so I went for lyrics that aim straight between the eyes. I went for the timeless theme of everlasting love. It’s about love, obsession and infatuation,” the singer said of the song’s inspiration.
“We were listening to some cool dance tracks and liked the feel of them at 126bpm,” continues guitarist and keyboard player, Steve Grimes. “We started using a couple of Apple Loops beats in that style, added a keys melody and chords from a previous track we’d worked on. Keith played the guitar chords in the Nile Rodgers style.”
As for the full album, the record comes as the band have rarely returned to the studio since the recording of their third album, barring special commemorative and charity projects. They have toured frequently since 2004 though, and took ideas from their live show rehearsals to be the blueprint for the new LP.
The album was recorded in a run of sessions with producer Mike Cave (The Charlatans, Bloc Party), and is available to pre-order here.
In other The Farm news, back in 2022 the band claimed that they had blocked their classic ’90s football anthem ‘All Together Now’ from being used in an advert linked to the Qatar World Cup.
