Taken from their new album ‘Deep Below’ (out 7th February 2025), Rats on Rafts reveal new single ‘Sleepwalking’ out 25th November.
Hazy dream pop track, ‘Sleepwalking’, is a song that was written as a reminder to always be open to the curious and the unexpected. No matter how many rabbit paths present themselves, you can always count on these Rotterdam dissidents to carve out their very own.
“This song had been reworked for years in a lot of different versions, eventually it all fell into place and I love the way it all falls apart at the end. Originally I recorded a demo of it with jangly guitars, Arnoud and Mathijs encouraged me to basically leave it out once we introduced the synthesizer and that kind of gave room for Arnoud’s guitar and set the tone of the song. Recomposing it with the synth and the melodic guitar only. We chose not to over rehearse this song so we could record it and have parts of it remain quite spontaneous. For us this had to be the last song of the new LP and became a favorite of ours.” Adds David Fagan.
Out of the fog emerges a darker, slower, eroded Rats on Rafts. Highlighting different shades within the monochrome landscape compared to their previous, more colourful albums; new album ‘Deep Below’ sees them dive deeper into their psyche, questioning our relationships with nature, religion and each other. Echoes of The Cure, Cocteau Twins and Slowdive seem present yet so many different influences make up an album that only they could create. ‘Deep Below’ sees Rats on Rafts coming of age whilst raising their heads from the underground.
Forever drifting into new territory, Rats on Rafts’ fourth album ‘Deep Below’ is certainly their darkest and most cohesive work to date. True to their analog recording process, the tape machines, reverbs, echoes and vital new ingredients: the Soundcraft 1s mixing desk (used by Lee Perry) and the eerie sounding Eminent String Ensemble synth all amplify the authentic sounds of the 1980’s without sounding like a relic. David Fagan: “We didn’t experience the 80’s but look back on the parts we like, and more recent music inspired by it. Our music could never have come out this way had we made it back then.”
You may conclude Rotterdam’s Rats on Rafts’ relationship with the past is complicated. ‘The Moon Is Big’ (2011), ‘Tape Hiss’ (2015) and ‘Excerpts From Chapter 3’ (2021) are truly gripping analog timestamps of a band refusing to give in to the supposed ‘progress of the world’, instead following their own path each time. ‘Deep Below’ is Rats on Rafts’ most minimalist work since their 2011 debut. Where the latter album was fuelled by a brash bravado, these recordings meditate on sentiments of doubt, loss, and ageing. Most of the new songs first appeared live in 2023 when supporting The Chills (NZ) on their final UK tour. After the tour was completed Rats on Rafts went straight into their underground studio to start recording their new songs. In 2025 they will resurface to embark on an extensive headline tour supporting the new album through the UK and Europe.
Deluxe Greyboard Spot UV sleeve + Grey Vinyl Edition, DL card
“A talismanic band intact.” The Quietus
TOUR DATES
12 Feb: Engine Room, North Shields, UK
13 Feb: Voodoo Rooms Speakeasy, Edinburgh, UK
14 Feb: Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, UK
16 Feb: Bello Bar, Dublin, Ireland
18 Feb: The Peer Hat, Manchester, UK
19 Feb: Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich, UK
20 Feb: The Tin, Coventry, UK
21 Feb: Prince Albert, Brighton, UK
22 Feb: Two Palms, London, UK
23 Feb: Music Hall, Ramsgate, UK
07 Mar: Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
14 Mar: Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
15 Mar: Merleyn, Nijmegen, Netherlands
27 Mar: Effenaar, Eindhoven, Netherlands
28 Mar: Ekko, Utrecht, Netherlands
29 Mar: Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
02 Apr: Sonic, Lyon, France
03 Apr: Swamp, Freiburg, Germany
04 Apr: Kohi, Karlsruhe, Germany
05 Apr: Manufaktur, Schorndorf, Germany
06 Apr: Gold, Neu-Ulm, Germany
22 Apr: Musikbunker, Aachen, Germany
23 Apr: Goldener Salon, Hamburg, Germany
25 Apr: Schokoladen, Berlin, Germany
26 Apr: UT Connewitz, Leipzig, Germany
