Bambara‘s album ‘Stray’, released before the before the world went mad early last year was described by me as being an epic release – deeply satisfying, cathartic to audiences who can embed themselves in the wild stories being told – a stark evocation of a time and place – wrapped in twanging guitars and rumbling bass. Dirty, swampy gothic rock.
A proposed US/EU tour was wiped out by the virus and a period of quiet reflection followed and the result is the announcement of a new release – ‘Love On My Mind’ – a six song mini-album, mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer and a resumption of touring. This news is accompanied by the release of a new single ‘Mythic Love’ which features Bria Salmena (Orville Peck/Frigs) and Drew Citron (Public Practice).
‘Mythic Love’ shows the theatrical, bold and utterly immersive approach of Bambara has not been dissipated. This is a band that exudes a cool insouciance, a louche style and the kind of rock’n’roll disdain and style that makes it so enjoyable, so cathartic. The twanging guitars cut their way through the thundering razor sharp bass and pounding drums while singer Reid Bateh’s sonorous deep vocals are languorous yet driving, burnished by the addition of the backing vocals. In the accompanying video, directed by Kevin Condon and Bambara, Bateh cuts an enigmatic character, sharply dressed and oh so cool. Background coordinated dancers lend a certain level of lightness to the clip. Bateh says of the video:
In ‘Mythic Love’ we see the two protagonists of the record meet for the first time. There’s an immediate attraction that seems almost out of their control. The song is about riding that first manic wave of infatuation wherever it leads, dismantling all of your previous associations with love along the way.
Bambara continue to be a theatrical delight with their studied storytelling and cool as ice presence:
“Love On My Mind” will be released on Wharf Cat on 25 February 2022.
It is available for preorder here and through the link below:
Bambara will resume their postponed US/EU tour early in the new year:
01 March – Paris, France – Élysée Montmartre (w/IDLES)
02 March – Lyon, France – Le Transbordeur (w/IDLES)
03 March – Milan, Italy – Fabrique Milano (w/IDLES)
06 March – Toulouse, France – Le Bikini (w/IDLES)
07 March – Bilbao, Spain – Santana 27 (w/IDLES)
09 March – Barcelona, Spain – Sala Razzmatazz (w/IDLES)
10 March – Madrid, Spain – La Riviera (w/IDLES)
11 March – Lisbon, Portugal – Lisbon Coliseum (w/IDLES)
13 March – Bordeaux, France – Rock School Barbey – Club
15 March – Lille, France – L’Aéronef
16 March – Leffinge (Middelkerke), Belgium – De Zwerver
17 March – Hannover, Germany – Cafe Glocksee
18 March – Berlin, Germany – Urban Spree
20 March – Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
21 March – Hamburg, Germany – Hafenklang
22 March – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
23 March – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Merleyn
24 March – Groningen, Netherlands – Vera
25 March – Haldern, Germany – Haldern Pop Bar UG
26 March – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix Bar
28 March – Cologne, Germany – Bumann & Sohn
29 March – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rotondes
30 March – Paris, France – La Boule Noire
01 April – Bedford, United Kingdom – Bedford Esquires
02 April – Guildford, United Kingdom – The Boileroom
03 April – Southampton, United Kingdom – Joiners Arms
04 April – Brighton, United Kingdom – CHALK
06 April – Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom – The Trades Club
07 April – London, United Kingdom – Dome Tufnell Park
08 April – Cambridge, United Kingdom – Portland Arms
09 April – Norwich, United Kingdom – Norwich Arts Centre
11 April – Leicester, United Kingdom – The Cookie
12 April – Leeds, United Kingdom – Brudenell Social Club
13 April – Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom – The Cluny
14 April – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Sneaky Pete’s
15 April – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Sneaky Pete’s
16 April – Glasgow, United Kingdom – Stereo
18 April – Sheffield, United Kingdom – The Leadmill
19 April – Birmingham, United Kingdom – The Castle & Falcon
20 April – Bristol, United Kingdom – Thekla
21 April – Mancheste, United Kingdom – Gorilla
22 April – Nottingham, United Kingdom – Rescue Rooms
23 April – Cardiff, United Kingdom – Clwb Ifor Bach
Feature Photograph: Pooneh Ghana
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