Double Dinners by Cousin Kula

Bristol based band Cousin Kula today announce their debut album Double Dinners, out November 26th via Rhythm Section. New single "Now That You're Gone" arrives today to coincide with the album announcement, accompanied by a turmeric-hued performance video for the track.

Musing on the slower-paced life of isolation, "Now That You're Gone" glides elegantly between hushed synth-led movements and expansive jazz-inflected psychedelia, as singer Elliot Ellison ponders on a troubling period of time: "Waiting for the time to pass / Yeah another day to blow away / I never thought I'd be on the other side of every ocean river and tide / and oh boy I'm tired".

Commenting on the new single, keys player Will Wells said: "This one started life deep into lockdown. I would set keyboards up outside Elliot’s bedroom window so we could still play together without me coming in the house. I guess the tune’s simplicity is, in some way, a reflection of the slower pace of life we’d gotten used to."

On the track's self-directed video, the singer Elliot commented: "We wanted to make a video that is basically the album's cover image as a music video. The concept was for everything to be completely turmeric all hand dyed by my good self. We used 10kg of turmeric and dyed 24 metres of fabric as well as all of our outfits, it took days and the whole house stank of turmeric! Plus my hands were orange for weeks. We wanted to embrace the fact we would be miming, do it a bit top of the pops with instruments obviously not plugged in, not taking it too seriously. We essentially just goofed around in a huge warehouse for a day in yellow outfits."

With co-signs from the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD and newly signed to Rhythm Section, Cousin Kula have created their own musical universe of otherworldly pop serenity with vastly distinct, but complementary elements: “the possibilities of jazz, the emphatic energy of club culture, and the sonic tapestries of psychedelia” CLASH Magazine remark.

Living and recording together, nestled in the sun-drenched hills on the outskirts of Bristol, Cousin Kula are masters of their craft, and also of restraint; widely regarded by their fans for their superior live show. Having performed live in various bands for the past 10 years since their early teens, not being able to hit the stage during lockdown took its toll on these musicians. Ever resourceful, however, Cousin Kula began a series of their own home-made live sessions, which lead in turn to a Boiler Room Session and further a request from XL signees BADBADNOTGOOD to record a live adaptation of their new single.

Now, Cousin Kula flutter into the collective consciousness with a timeless slice of psychedelic soul on debut album Double Dinners. The latest band to emerge out of the buoyant Bristol music scene, they have stripped back all excess baggage for their most accomplished recordings to date.

Existing on a similar plane to contemporaries such as Connan Mockasin, Mildlife, Toro Y Moi, Mac DeMarco and HOMESHAKE, the band caught the attention of renowned tastemaker Bradley Zero with their 'Casa Kula Cassette' EP at the end of 2020, with the Rhythm Section founder swiftly taking the 5 piece under his wing, with him commenting:

“The band balance an outsider approach with more hooks than you can shake a stick at... the result being a gently beguiling sound that effortlessly draws you in, revealing more character with each listen.”

This is merely a taste of what’s to come. Cousin Kula's debut album Double Dinners is out November 26th via Rhythm Section. New single "Now That You're Gone" is out now. Cousin Kula will play a short run of headline dates in December, including a date at London's Jazz Cafe.

cousinkula.com
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