Concert News
Cult Of Youth Annoucne New Album And Tour
September 3rd sees the release of ‘Love Will Prevail’, the new album from Brooklyn’s Cult of Youth. Released through Sacred Bones Records (Zola Jesus, The Men, Moon Duo) ‘Love Will Prevail’ is an experimental exploration of post-industrial folk, psychedelia and post-punk.
Cult of Youth began as a solo project of Sean Ragon, an active member of Brooklyn’s DIY punk, industrial and experimental music communities on the east coast for over 15 years. Now performing as a full band Cult of Youth’s last album produced by Chris Coady (Gang Gang Dance, Beach House), landed them on tours with Zola Jesus, Cold Cave and Iceage and caused quite a stir among US press outlets, including Pitchfork and Stereogum.
For this album, Ragon built his own recording studio from scratch in the back of the record store he owns in Brooklyn. This allowed him to control every aspect of the album and to take his time recording; he plays five different instruments on ‘Love Will Prevail’ and also engineered and mixed the album by himself. The record features contributions from Glenn Maryansky (Blacklist) on drums and Christiana Key on violin, as well as percussion from the enigmatic ning nong and vocals from Beverly Hames (Battletorn).
‘Love Will Prevail’ expands on the psychedelic neofolk foundation of the early work and adds lush atmospheres not dissimilar from Austrian post-industrial futurists Nový Svět. There is also an intentional nod to the Crass Records bands that influenced Ragon as a teenager and a tasteful hint of Velvet Underground worship. The lyrical content is also fairly politically charged this time around, and serves as a plea for peace in a world gone mad.
The first single, ‘Man and Man’s Ruin’ finally realises the majestic beauty that has always been bubbling under the surface of Ragon’s work. ‘Love Will Prevail’ is by far and away Cult of Youth’s crowning achievement and it is the true embodiment of DIY idealism.
Tour dates:
18th September – The Arts Centre, Colchester
19th September – The Hope, Brighton
20th September – Birthdays, London
22nd September – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow
23rd September – Kraak Gallery, Manchester