The Dears turn back the clock on brilliantly bittersweet tune "1998"
Montréal indie veterans The Dears are sharing jangly cut "1998", a swooning new preview of upcoming record Times Infinity Volume Two.
The track follows "Of Fisticuffs" in previewing the follow up to 2015's Times Infinity Volume One.
"[It's] kinda old school Dears, but wearing a slightly updated outfit," explains the band's Murray Lightburn. "It tells a specific story that actually happened - it’s a happy story, actually."
Despite being about "a happy story", it's not overtly upbeat, with sinewy strands of melancholia woven through each shuffling beat and grand refrain. There's an odd finality to the bittersweet broth as it gallops towards a climactic, emotional release in the closing seconds - Lightburn and fellow founder Natalia Yanchak craft another outsider pop gem.
The Dears have a UK/Ireland tour planned for autumn, including a stop at London's Oslo on 7 October. Find out more about the duo's live plans below; tickets are on sale from 18 May.
October
- 5 - OXFORD Academy 2
- 6 - BRIGHTON The Haunt
- 7 - LONDON Oslo
- 9 - PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms
- 10 - MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
- 11 - NEWCASTLE Academy 2
- 12 - GLASGOW King Tuts
- 13 - LIVERPOOL Academy 2
- 15 - DUBLIN The Grand Social
- 16 - BELFAST Empire Music Hall
- Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition 2025 finalists revealed
- Ed Sheeran shares new single, "Azizam"
- Kesha wants forthcoming album to be "a safe space for people to feel fully embodied and liberated"
- Rachel Chinouriri presents new single, "23:42"
- Caity Baser joins forces with Oh Wonder on new single, "Running From Myself"
- Lydia Night of The Regrettes unveils debut solo single, "Pity Party"
- Matilda Mann covers Chet Baker's "There Will Never Be Another You"
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday
