C DUNCAN Announces third album and releases first single “Impossible” – Listen Now

C DUNCAN Announces third album and releases first single "Impossible" - Listen Now 1
Photo credit: Jordan Curtis Hughes

Set for release via FatCat Records on March 29, 2019. C DUNCAN’s highly-anticipated third album sees the Scottish multi-instrumentalist ditch his bedroom studio and works with other producers, engineers and musicians for the first time. “This was the biggest shift in dynamic for me,” he explains, “having always worked alone, it was a daunting prospect but one I knew I had to explore.” Navigating themes of love, anxiety and sexuality, HEALTH (produced by elbow’s Craig Potter) is a deeply personal record that delves into a world Duncan had previously felt uneasy exploring. “Writing it was a very cathartic process” he continues. “It helped me through a lot of tough times and also to celebrate the good.”

Warm and harmonically rich, Duncan delightfully juxtaposes the vibrant and wholesome aesthetic of the album with an often-darker lyrical undertone, pushing himself to refine and explore new ways of writing. As the sole protagonist of his self-carved niche, Health sees Duncan evolve and expand its parameters in mesmerizing fashion.

Out on Friday, January 18th, the album’s first single “Impossible” documents the highs and lows of a long-distance relationship with an ex-boyfriend. “At one point he was working night shifts, so it was very hard to communicate with each other because our schedules were completely out of sync. I wanted to see him all of the time, but it was impossible to do at that point in time,” Duncan explains. Strings and oddball psychedelic sounds combine with equal vigor, it’s jarring rhythmic art-funk of offering an accurate portrayal based on personal experience.

Listen to “Impossible” – BELOW:

Following the Mercury Prize-nominated debut Architect (2015,) an its impressive follow-up The Midnight Sun (2016), Health’s soaring tapestries achieve what Duncan set out to do. “With album three, I wanted to take a more direct approach, adding even more layers but thematically and lyrically laid bare,” he explains. “Having someone else to bounce production ideas off was really eye-opening for me. In the past, I had been very controlling about how everything would sound but Health really showed me the benefit of working with others and made the whole process much less isolating.”

Packed with fresh ideas and buzzing with invention, Health combines syncopated art-pop piano rhythms with breezy, undulating heartbreak ballads executed with acute precision. As always, Duncan has contributed all the artwork surrounding the release, and the colorful and natural aesthetic is reflected in the instrumentation and lyrics.

C DUNCAN Announces third album and releases first single "Impossible" - Listen Now

Album Tracklisting

1. Talk Talk Talk
2. Wrong Side of the Door
3. Impossible
4. He Came From The Sun
5. Holiday Home
6. Health
7. Somebody Else’s Home
8. Blasé
9. Reverie
10. Pulses & Rain
11. Stuck Here With You
12. Care
 
 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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