Holmfirth-based psychedelic pop maestro Napoleon IIIrd has announced a new single, “The Unknown Unknown” this March 7th, and a tour spanning the next four months that will take him all over the UK and out into Europe.
The March UK dates will feature an indie-all-star band (featuring various members of Sky Larkin, Internet Forever, A Scholar & A Physician, Keyboard Choir, AK/DK and Stairs To Korea). With live drums, brass, keyboards and ensemble vocals, the band performed together for the first time for the album release party at Club NME, Koko, last November, getting together again at Hoxton Hall recently; and as this live film shows, they create a sound to behold.
“Christiania” has been a breakthrough album for Napoleon IIIrd. Press praise came from far and wide, including the NME (“an embarrassment of musical riches”), Word (“thrilling”), Artrocker (“infectiously entertaining”), The Sunday Times (“pure inspiration”), Drowned In Sound (“stunning”), The Line Of Best Fit (“faultless”), The Big Issue (“inarguably majestic”), Loud & Quiet (“a true master of outsider pop”), and MOJO (“deserves to be considered the peer of fellow electro-melodicists Fuck Buttons and Animal Collective”).
The Unknown Unknown is the opening track from the album, and already a hit in the blogosphere after topping the charts at global blog aggregator Hype Machine upon the album's release. A new version of the song will be packaged with a choice selection of b-sides, remixes and the live band version of the track for the single.
With Christiania out now and the expanded, widescreen live band matching it's scope and vision, Napoleon IIIrd comes of age: 2011 will be his year.
Spanish Tour w/ Mat Riviere
25 Jan Malaga, CC Oilerias
28 Jan Madrid, Nasti Club
30 Jan Castellon, Tanned Tin Festival
iLiKETRAiNS Support Tour
02 Feb Brighton, The Hope
03 Feb Bath, Moles
04 Feb Birmingham, HMV Institute (supporting Sparkadia)
05 Feb Norwich, Arts Centre
06 Feb Oxford, Jericho Tavern
07 Feb Nottingham, Bodega
09 Feb Sheffield, Fusion
10 Feb Liverpool, Shipping Forecast
11 Feb York, The Duchess
The Unknown Unknown Tour (UK)
07 Mar Cardiff, Undertone
09 Mar Edinburgh, The Electric Circus
10 Mar Sheffield, Harley
11 Mar Salford, Manchester, Islington Mill
12 Mar Leeds, Nation of Shopkeepers
14 Mar Winchester, The Railway
15 Mar London, The Nest
The Unknown Unknown Tour (Europe)
29 Mar Oslo, Norway, Mono
30 Mar Trondheim, Norway, Credo
07 Apr Vienna, Austria, Club Weird Kong
08 Apr Dublin, Ireland, The Workman's Club
09 Apr Belfast, Ireland, Auntie Annies
Napoleon IIIrd – The Unknown Unknown (Live @ Hoxton Hall) from Brainlove on Vimeo.