The Vaccines debut Dave Fridmann-recorded new track "Handsome", reveal album title

19 January 2015, 20:00 | Written by The Line of Best Fit

(News)

(The Vaccines)

The Vaccines have dropped the first track from English Graffiti, their Dave Fridmann-recorded third record, due out later this year.

"Handsome" debuted earlier this evening as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, with the accompanying video for the track hitting the web shortly after. The striking visuals for "Handsome" take their cues from grindhouse kung fu movies and the song's backbone is flush with Fridmann's signature overdrive.

"It's the first time The Vaccines have ever embraced production and modernity," explained frontman Justin Hayward-Young to Zane Lowe. "I think I've never seen us as an indie band. I've always wanted us to be played and enjoyed next to pure pop music."

The band had previously talked of "wanting to make an important sounding" record. "It's not like a plug-in and play record," Hayward-Young told the AU Review back in November last year.

Buffalo, NY-based producer Fridman is best known for his work with the likes of The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and MGMT and worked the band at his Tarbox Road Studios, according to the studio website. He recently posted a shot, taken during the recording session.

Picture taken from http://www.tarboxroadstudios.com/tarbox/Photos/Pages/The_Vaccines.html#0

English Graffiti was produced by the band with Fridmann and Cole MGN. Hayward-Young revealed the record's title to Lowe during their on-air chat. There's no confirmed release date for the album yet.

The four-piece play two small shows this week in the South of England - tonight they hit Brighton Concorde 2 and tomorrow sees them in the capital for a set at London's Village Underground.Further dates are set for March and April with shows at Nottingham Rock City (27 March), Hartlepool Borough Hall (28 March), Glasgow Old Fruit Market (29 March), Scunthorpe Baths Hall (31 March), Manchester Albert Hall (1 April), Portsmouth Pyramid (3 April), Bath Pavilion (4 April), Folkestone The Leas Cliff Hall (5 April) and London Brixton Electric (8 April).

The Vaccines are also part of War Child's Passport Back to the Bars event - a week of one-off shows in intimate venues – at the 150-capacity Dublin Castle in Camden on 16 February. Ride, Duran Duran, Bastille, Elbow and You Me At Six also play during the week.

Handsome is available to pre-order now as a limited edition orange vinyl 7” - also available in the shops on 9 March.