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Rural France's new album "Exactamondo!" is out today.
Following an enthusiastic response to their 2021 album, RF – JanglePopHub’s AOTY no less – fuzz-loving jangle duo Rural France returned to their Wiltshire garage with a new confidence. Together, Tom Brown (of slacker indie punks Teenage Tom Petties) and Rob Fawkes have self-recorded a follow-up that’s a little wilder, a little more unpredictable, but just as wonderfully melodic and heart swelling.
Exactamondo! will be released by Meritorio Records on 26 April and takes the Teenage Fanclub, Lemonheads and GbV influences that informed RF and twists them into something more distinct. Driven by bombastic drumming and Fawkes’ distinctive Mascis-esqe guitar lines, each lo-fi gem pulls you in with tunes that make you smile, before Brown’s lyrics give you a little dig in the ribs.
“We’ve always loved songs that adhere to the classic power pop formula but have an edge,” says Brown. “That’s what we wanted more of on this record. To have perfectly formed melodies that carry words with some tension – that fight against the sunny pop.”
This approach is never more apparent on first single Packhorse¬ – a seemingly straightforward and anthemic love paean that, when you read a little deeper, actually reveals itself to be the story of a relationship souring following an appearance on a reality dating show.
Exactamondo! also adds some new sonic colours to the Rural France palette. The pedal steel that guides the yearning Dando-esque Blabbermouth; the Malkmus breakdowns and crescendos of Prize Goose. It all results in a more energetic and classic-feeling album that’s destined to spend a lot of time on turntables in 2024.
The band plan to celebrate the release of Exactamondo! with a short tour of the UK and Europe. Dates to be announced.
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