Norway’s Mayflower Madame are set to unfurl their splendid new single, “Vultures”, with a gorgeous video to match.
Vultures is the first single from their upcoming second album, Prepared for a Nightmare, to be released in late March via French label Only Lovers Records (in collaboration with Portland’s Little Cloud Records and Parisian label Icy Cold Records.) The much-anticipated Prepared For A Nightmare sees the band delving into their own distinctive blend of psych-noir and post-punk, with elements of shoegaze and noise-rock.
Hailing from Oslo, Mayflower Madame is Trond Fagernes (vocals, guitars, bass), Håvard Haga (guitars) and Ola J. Kyrkjeeide (drums).
“Compared to our previous stuff, it feels more hard-edged and perhaps also darker,” says Trond Fagernes. “There’s still elements of psychedelia and shoegaze, but leaning more towards to a post-punkish, almost industrial sound.”
“The lyrics revolve around feelings of excess, lust and greed, always wanting and needing more, never getting enough, and how one sometimes can seem to push things further and further like we’re waiting and almost longing for everything to burst. It’s a not a coincidence that this also reflects concerns about how modern society in general is evolving,” says Fagernes.
The video for Vultures is a cleverly-directed kaleidoscope of hi-contrast paper collage animations, live footage of the band, and a dance sequence by Norwegian drag artist Remi Johansen Hovda. The effect is a futuristic nod to 19th-century choreographer Loie Fuller’s “serpentine dance” and the stage presence of the great Lindsay Kemp (who trained Kate Bush). The band adds that they were also inspired by the art of George Grosz and Hieronymus Bosch.
Watch the Video Below:
This video marks director Astrid Serck’s third collaboration with Mayflower Madame. Serck, who also created the cover art for their upcoming EP, wanted to “recreate the mood of the song by visualizing a hypnotic, partly-controlled chaos filled with tension,” says Trond Fagernes.
Vultures will be available on the 4th of February 2020 across digital platforms, including iTunes and Spotify. ‘Prepared for a Nightmare’ will be released on March 27.
Meanwhile, Mayflower Madame are set to embark on a North American Tour through March and April.
Dates:
- March 27th – Desert Stars Festival – Joshua Tree
- March 28th – Bar Sinister – Los Angeles
- March 29th – Whistle Stop – San Diego
- March 30th – Lunchbox – Phoenix
- March 31st – TBA
- April 1st – TBA
- April 2nd – Lo-Fi – Seattle
- April 3rd – Out From The Shadows Festival – Portland
- April 4th – Elbo Room – Oakland
