Emerging Glaswegian band, Humour, release new single “Memorial” ahead of their debut album this summer. The new track offers a taste of what to expect from the upcoming record “Learning Greek”, which will be released on the 8th of August this year.
Inspired by the poet Alice Oswald’s reinterpretation of Homer’s Iliad, the new track draws context from the ways in which we come to understand the inevitably of death, and how that grief can “sit on our chest,”.
Reflecting on this, lead vocalist Andreas Christodoulidis said: “Oswald describes the Iliad as a catalogue of death. It’s a step by step description of all these people being slaughtered, but it’s described in an incredibly beautiful way.”
Produced by Idlewild’s Rod Jones at his Post Electric studio in Edinburgh,“Memorial”, is described as being snottily anthemic but emotioanlly gutting, providing the perfect example of the high-wire act Humour have pulled off across the album.
Underlining the idea that history is kept alive by connection, Humour’s retelling of Hector and his wife Andromache sees them waiting next to buzzsaw guitars, with the knowledge of what’s to come hanging heavy between them.
“Memorial describes a scene from the Iliad in which Andromache must say goodbye to her husband Hector the night before he’s killed in battle. The main theme of the song is imminent disaster and trying to remain stoic in the face of it,” said Christodoulidis.
With last year being largely set aside to write new material, the 11 songs of “Learning Greek” offer a combination of lithe riffs, throat-stripping intensity and a crushing take on the fabled loud/quiet dynamic. The new record follows their two critically-acclaimed EPs, “Pure Misery” released in 2022, and “A Small Crowd Gathered To Watch Me” released in 2023, before returning this Spring with the albums opening title “Neighbours”. A heavy, decisively robust comeback that saw Humour added to the BBC 6 Music playlist for the first time with their sprightly jagged follow-up “Plagiarist” last month.
Following a busy summer schedule and in support of the new record, Humour have announced their most extensive UK headline tour to date. With shows across the country right through to the end of the year.
25/05 A Stone’s Throw Festival, Newcastle
27/05 Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
28/05 The Ferret, Preston
29/05 Elephant’s Head, London
31/05 Supersonic Block Party, Paris
09/07-11/07 2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham
02/08 – Multitude Festival, Milton Keynes
20/11 – Oporto, Leeds
22/11 – Yes (Basement), Manchester
23/11 – Bodega, Nottingham
25/11 – Dead Wax, Birmingham
27/11 – The Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes
28/11 – The Lexington, London
29/11 – Bear Cave, Bournemouth
30/11 – Cavern Club, Exeter
02/12 – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
03/12 – Exchange, Bristol
04/12 – District, Liverpool
05/12 – Zerox, Newcastle
06/12 – King Tut’s, Glasgow
