“I want to wake up at 50 and feel that I’ve given everything I could to [the record].”
— Hamish Hutcheson
The term ‘Escalate’ suggests an upward acceleration. ‘Between Dreams’ serves as an intense primer in fast-paced trance, while a re-recorded version of ‘Heartbeat’ takes an unexpected turn, much like a DJ remixing a song. ‘Let It Escalate’ is filled with energy. “We aimed to express those [emotions] rather than hold back,” Conor shares with a smile.
As the album progresses, themes of introspection emerge, combining club hooks with raw emotional expressions, whether in the bittersweet ‘This Is Not The End’ or ‘How To Say Goodbye’, which Hamish wrote about a loved one who was ill. “I needed to express that and process it,” he explains. “It was a cathartic way for me to release a significant amount of emotion, which we hadn’t really explored throughout the album… I laid everything bare.” This leads to the somber closing track ‘A Clear Tide’, potentially the only moment of peace on the record—confronting the concepts of immortality and time, which might also symbolize the calm of deserted streets viewed from a night bus window.
“The transition from ‘This Is Not The End’ to ‘A Clear Tide’ is very touching, as it touches on nostalgia, the passage of life, and the notion of immortality,” Conor notes, reminiscing that he originally penned 'A Clear Tide' as a poem years ago. “I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of creating something larger than myself. Once I’m gone, this record will still exist. That’s what has always mattered to me—creating art that transcends its origins.”
Joining him on the track is Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream, who shares a hometown with Conor and his brother Niall (also his bandmate). “He helped pave the way with the early Primal Scream albums for the ‘dance-rock’ movement,” he grins. “When I composed that poem, I was likely immersed in ‘Screamadelica’ through my headphones.”
While ‘Escalate’ represents the peak of VLURE’s journey thus far, it’s crucial to recognize that this is merely the beginning. Hamish, Conor, Niall, along with Carlo Kriekaard (synth/drums) and Alex Pearson (keys), have opened a portal into their shared creativity, eager to embrace their moment, however fleeting it may be.
“I want to wake up at 50 and know that I’ve left everything I could on [the record],” Hamish asserts. “It’s about providing those who attend our shows with something to believe in, together,” Conor concludes. “If fate doesn’t favor us, or if my body fails, at least I can sit back content and say, ‘Wow, I really went for it.’”
‘Escalate’ will be released on September 26th through Music For Nations.
Jacob Read has also released the lead single from the album, titled ‘Death Valley Morning Dew’.
The anticipation for next summer has begun...
Klein has launched her latest ambient mixtape titled 'sleep with a cane'. As a significant figure in the underground music scene, Klein's recent work showcases some remarkable highlights.
Django Django returns to the scene with their latest track, 'Temple Dogs'. This new song is now available and is included in 'SUN GOD FRAUD SQUAD', a compilation featuring multiple artists.
Croeso! Welcome to our monthly roundup of new Welsh music. In this section, we highlight the best recent releases from up-and-coming and independent alternative artists from
With their exhilarating debut album 'Escalate', the Glasgow-based quintet and DIY Class of 2023 members VLURE elevate their electrifying rave-punk to reach a new level.