The Blackheart Orchestra announce new album ‘Hotel Utopia’: a meditation on death and the afterlife – Metal Planet Music

The Blackheart Orchestra release The Tide video. The song is taken from their forthcoming album Hotel Utopia, released by Ceandar Records on 23 September.

The Blackheart Orchestra are Manchester based multi-instrumentalists Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington who take a wide range of influences from artists such as Sigur Ros, Bat For Lashes and Bjork.

Together they combine contemporary rock with electronica, atmospherics and classical styling to create a unique brand of ethereal art-rock that is laden with pop hooks and poetry, raw emotions and philosophy. They are frequently compared to such diverse artists as Cocteau Twins, early Pink Floyd, Portishead and Kate Bush as well as contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass.

The bands 2019 album Mesmeranto reached #16 in the UK Indie Chart, #18 in the UK Rock Chart, #4 in the USAs Big Takeover Albums of the Year and was voted twice in the Rock Writers Top 20 Albums of the Year.

The album received unanimous praise from the likes of Louder Than War, PROG magazine, RnR and No Depression as well as gaining them recognition and applause from musical peers including Genesis Steve Hackett and Motrheads Phil Campbell. They won Best British Duo.

They were voted #4 Best New Band in the UK. Chrissy was recently voted #5 Best Female Vocalist in PROG Magazines Readers Poll, and their lockdown online concert series The Big Armchair Concerts was voted #10 in Most Important Rock Events of 2020.

Now, following a recent, successful 17-date UK tour, the band announce details of their new album. Hotel Utopia which finds them at their most mesmerizing, haunting best.

Never afraid to take on the most daunting subjects, Mesmeranto was based on the concept of death, inspired by Mostyns mother who was nearing the end of her life. Now Hotel Utopia takes a musical look at the afterlife.

The 13 songs discuss the one mystery that has troubled every human animal that ever lived. What happens after life? Whether we believe in God with a capital G, with a small g or believe in no g at all, Hotel Utopia is a collection 13 songs that discusses our fear of the mystery of the moment the light goes out. Or does it?

Its a record that doesnt attempt to answer that question but provokes the listeners thoughts while holding their hand along a musical journey that meditates on our fears and fantasies of heaven stopping off en route at murder, suicide, the end of the world and reincarnation as we all approach the unknown mystery of our own personal Hotel Utopia.

Opening song The Tide deals with the end of a loved life, a song Chrissy wrote about her mothers passing and the impact the subsequent grief had on her body and spirit. Under The Headlights sees every life as part of something bigger and features a historic recording of the voice of 1960s British philosopher Alan Watts.

Amplifying the thought, the video was shot just three feet from the edge of the 531ft high cliffs at Birling Gap, South Downs, sadly the worlds third most popular suicide location. The Warning looks at the death of the earth, and is a melancholic call to arms to a species seemingly dedicated to self-destruction, whilst Astronaut is a childs nave vision of life ahead ultimately replaced by reality.

Continuing with these themes, songs such as Alive, A Dangerous Thing and Dust examine the sanctity of life, love, the mystery of death and the pain of bereavement. Whilst Casting Spells playfully asks is someone keeping a tally on our behaviour and is the afterlife a spin of the wheel based on our track record? Atlantic illustrates a fantasy journey of reincarnation, an underwater dream state of the subconscious mind.

Whilst the final track, The Flood, is about apocalyptic endings, yet rebirths and new beginnings. It is the perfect closing to extraordinary album The Blackheart Orchestras most mesmerizing and ambitious to date.

Based on Chrissy Mostyns track by track guide, available on request.

Were extremely excited to announce our three years in the making album Hotel Utopia. Hotel Utopia is 13 songs about the afterlife. It holds the listeners hand along a musical journey that meditates on our fears and fantasies of heaven stopping off en route at murder, suicide, the end of the world and reincarnation.

Hotel Utopia is an audio movie for the listeners mind, emotions and imagination. The album will be supported by an 18 date tour of the UK.

Track list:

The TideUnder The HeadlightsSafeThe WarningAstronautAliveA Dangerous ThingCasting SpellsDustAtlanticTranslucentRaise Your HeartThe Flood

Hotel Utopia will be available on 23 September.

Buy Link:https://store.theblackheartorchestra.com

The album release will be immediately followed by a 18-date promotional UK tour:

Sept 1 OSWESTRY Hermon ChapelSept 4 HULL AdelphiSept 6 MASHAM Town HallSept 9 LEEDS Seven ArtsSept 11 EDINBURGH BannermansSept 15 WIGAN Old CourtsSept 17 OUNDLE Victoria HallSept 18 LICHFIELD The HubSept 22 SUTTON Sound LoungeSept 24 WINCHESTER The RailwaySept 25 SOUTHAMPTON Hanger Farm ArtsSept 29 PENZANCE Acorn ArtsOct 1 CREDITON Arts CentreOct 8 LEDBURY Market TheatreOct 12 CHELMSFORD A CanteenOct 13 BRIGHTON BrunswickOct 16 POOLE Sound CellarOct 20 BANBURY The Mill Arts CentreOct 23 SHEFFIELD Greystones

Download / stream herehttps://linktr.ee/theblackheartorchestra

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The Blackheart Orchestra announce new album 'Hotel Utopia': a meditation on death and the afterlife - Metal Planet Music