Darkstar announce first album in five years with lead single "Jam"

"Jam" is the second track to be shared from their new LP, after February's "Wolf".

They say of their new single, ""Jam" is like a peripheral two step banger. Like if you were listening to your neighbour playing tunes through the wall or a car sped past and the bass reverberated out. It’s built with all those classic two step presets from an altern8 sample pack we found online. The organ bass is too tempting and satisfying not to use and with Jam we were able to link it in nicely. We called it "Jam" cos it’s a "Jam" duh."

Discussing their choice to continue releasing music during the coronavirus pandemic, Darkstar add, "This was all planned to go out into a world that wasn't going through a pandemic. We don't know what we feel about releasing music in this climate to be frank. Everything we tried to touch on with regards to tangible space and shared moments on the record seems like we were concerned about a luxury we didn't know could be reduced further. With everyone going through isolation in one form or another it certainly asks the question of what people can do to help each other. We made a record and if even just a small number of people can take comfort in it it's more than done its job."

Civic Jams will be their first LP since 2015's Foam Island.

Darkstar say of their new album, "We’ve tried to look at the juxtaposition of being comfortable in an often claustrophobic era of unrest both politically and culturally. Tangible space is where this album focuses - it’s about having the last warning on a tax bill and going to a rave. It’s resigned to having a drink while Brexit blares out in the background. Being able to enjoy the sun while another 0845 number rings out on your mobile for god knows what. We wanted to look at singling out those moments when you balance the everyday fuckery you find yourself in with being in a place or a community that resonates with you and eases the burden."

They add, "We’ve trivially written about debt, fuck it, think about it tomorrow. Explored Brex-IN rather than Brex-IT, imagine joining rather than leaving. Observed how comforting it is having a local to take the edge off while you chat shit to your mate and tried articulating if all of this was any different - would it be as graceful? Patterns of isolation are increasingly easy to fall into, especially when public spaces where people play, socialise, dance and protest are closed. Civic Jams is about reminiscing over loss, whilst moving forward with those we love. It offers an abstract look at life’s nuances and the search to find something to hold on to and enjoy."

Tracklist:

1. Forest
2. Jam
3. 1001
4. 30
5. Wolf
6. Loon
7. Tuesday
8. Text
9. Blurred