BALTHAZAR announce new album FEVER out 25th January 2019 – Check out new video for ‘Fever’

Balthazar announces their return with news of the forthcoming album Fever on 25th January 2019. Its clear from the opening notes of the album’s first and title track Fever that the five-piece have changed, not least due to their individual musical pursuits over the past few years. Opening with a rolling languid bass riff, Fever unfurls into a slinky sunset jam, a swooping string motif adding drama to the funky bustle that fanfares Balthazar into new territory with their fourth album; honest, playful and underpinned with a carefree abandon from two extraordinary songwriters.

Following the band’s self-imposed hiatus, a break that saw frontmen and writing partners Jinte Deprez and Maarten Devoldere pursuing different individual interests from both a personal and creative perspective that has ultimately led the band to fashion their most cohesive album to date.

The break saw Devoldere release two albums of lush, moody art-jazz as Warhaus which, freed from the work constraints of Balthazar, eventually resulted in him ending up at a retreat in Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, his best friend since school, Deprez, remained at home in Ghent working in the studio, indulging his love of old-school R&B, and releasing a solo record under the nom de plume J. Bernardt. The freedom to indulge their whims and the result of those solo successes led to the urge to write together again, propelled by a broader artistic horizon and hastened by their mutual respect for each other’s work.

On reconvening the band had no plans, just a simple desire to better their previous works, and to further the band’s story. Both primary songwriters agreed on a less serious vision leaning towards a looser, refreshed sound – less melancholic, but retaining their unerring ability to create a hook-laden armoury. As Devoldere explains; “Some songs felt like classic Balthazar pop songs, others a little chipper, but it wasn’t until we had Fever that we had the foundation for the rest of the album.”

Watch the video for ‘Fever’ – BELOW:

Released on vinyl, cd and digitally through Play It Again Sam, Fever is available to pre-order here.

Full track listing is:

Fever
Changes
Wrong faces
Whatchu Doin’
Phone Number
Entertainment
I’m Never Gonna let You Down Again
Grapefruit
Wrong Vibration
Roller Coaster
You’re So Real

Meanwhile tickets for the bands European tour in 2019 go on sale at 10am on Friday 02 November with a special pre-sale to fans on Wednesday 31 October – the full itinerary is as follows:

06.02 – The Fleece, BRISTOL UK
07.02 – Green Door Store, BRIGHTON UK
08.02 – The Deaf Institute, MANCHESTER UK
09.02 – Whelans, DUBLIN IE
10.02 – Oran Mor, GLASGOW UK
12.02 – Scala, LONDON UK
13.02 – Live Music Hall, KÖLN DE
14.02 – Grunspan, HAMBURG DE
15.02 – Huxleys, BERLIN DE
16.02 – Technikum, MUNICH DE
17.02 – Batschkapp, FRANKFURT DE
19.02 – Flex, VIENNA AT
20.02 – Santeria Social Club, MILAN IT
22.02 -Les Docks, LAUSANNE CH
23.02 – Plaza, ZURICH CH
25.02 – Majestic Music Club, BRATISLAVA SK
26.02 – Control Club, BUCHAREST RO
28.02 – Lucerna Music Bar, PRAGUE CZ
01.03 – Klub Proxima, WARSAW PL
07.03 – AFAS Live, AMSTERDAM NL
08.03 – Lotto Arena, ANTWERP BE
24.03 – Aeronef Club, PARIS FR
25.03 – Casino de Paris, PARIS FR
28.03 – Épicerie Moderne, FEYZIN FR
29.03 – Rockstore, MONTPELIER FR
30.03 – Sala Apolo, BARCELONA ESP
31.03 – Cool Stage, MADRID ES
02.04 – Krakatoa, BORDEAUX FR
03.04 – Stereolux, NANTES FR