Declan Welsh & The Decadent West launched their upcoming album ‘Explicit Agitation’ with a blaze of intensity, first unveiling the frenetic lead single ‘Run Down Small Town’ before completing an electrifying UK and European headline tour. Now they fire up once more ahead of the album’s release on February 12th by releasing a double-A single featuring ‘Mistakes’ and ‘On Juan’. Listen HERE.
The two tracks emphasise the polar extremes of the ‘Explicit Agitation’ album. ‘Mistakes’ sees the band stepping into hook-heavy, groove-laden synth-pop, with Declan’s unmistakable Scottish accent applied to a stylish croon with lyrics addressing the trauma of a long distance break-up.
Declan says, “I love Chic and Nile Rogers, and I love Parcels. So, I have that more synth-poppy side as well as the funk and soul. I went through a break-up when we were away, mid-tour, which I don’t recommend anyone ever does! But it’s nice to exorcise some of the feelings. As a songwriter, you become a warped, weird person. When you feel very strongly, even if that feeling isn’t positive, you’re like: right, well, there’s stuff here stuff here to be getting on with!”
There’s a different kind of intensity in the hedonistic attack of ‘On Juan’ (“I’ve a head like a Mexico City… but I’m on one… keying cocaine in Cancun”), which evokes the desert rock blast of Queens of the Stone Age and the gritty, full-throttle melody of Biffy Clyro.
He adds, “That song is about how it feels to be on the night out when you’re up – and how it feels to be on the night out when it starts going wrong. You can’t separate them.”
The three singles that have previewed the album showcase Declan West’s desire to inspire and provoke, to enrage and engage, their messages – personal, political, social, emotional – shackled to rocket-powered musicianship and songcraft. The ‘Explicit Agitation’ title is a mission statement for a record which nails its colours to the mast, its ambition to the flagpole, its tunes to the sky.
Explicit Agitation’ is available to pre-order / pre-save HERE. Declan’s official store offers an exclusive 100% recycled vinyl and signed CD formats, while all album bundles add a free signed and numbered bonus CD featuring four new non-album tracks. There are also exclusive new merch designs.
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