English indie-pop band Glass Animals have found great success since releasing their hit single, ‘Heat Waves.’ Their latest album Dreamland provides a breathtaking soundtrack for life’s highs and lows.
Frontman Dave Bayley dug deeper than ever into himself to write songs for this record, with help from producer Paul Epworth creating something larger than themselves.
Dreamland is a land characterized by basic religion and alchemy as the mainstays of culture, led by Elfo and Luci who oversee an apothecary while Bean brought medical knowledge back from Steamland for use here.
At the party, Land Vikings come crashing in and take the opportunity to steal Elixir of Life for themselves and thus spark another war between Dreamland and Luna Park.
Meanwhile, Dagmar attempted to seize control of Dreamland by marrying Bean; however, she was poisoned with a petrification potion due to a playfully mischievous beanswap and sent into hell where she was abducted by Satan himself before eventually being rescued by her father and returned back home where she united all races of Dreamland under one banner before eventually becoming Queen and ruling since. Yet the old magic still reigns supreme.
Glass Animals’ last record, 2020’s Dreamland, became an instantaneous success stateside with crowds crowding Glass Animals shows from buses and spilling onto street parties after. But beyond its surface of upbeat pop gold lies intimate, personal stories about love, loss, and what it’s like being human in an often isolating world.
I Love You So F***ing Much is inspired by an immersive world, inspired by frontman Dave Bayley’s experience watching Heat Waves become one of Britain’s biggest-selling songs in 30 years during a global pandemic.
Creatures in Heaven was released as a teaser track to announce their forthcoming album release date of 19 July, as seen in this video clip that shows their crew zipping through space dodging eyeballs and dolphins before coming to rest atop a building with ILYSFM written across its roof.
How to Be a Human Being is Glass Animals’ follow up album to their critically-acclaimed debut Zaba, with each track offering relatable yet abstract lyrics that were difficult to connect with. Instead, each song on How to Be a Human Being features someone’s story told through their unique voice recorded specifically to sound like their character in question.
Dave Bayley used stories gathered while touring for his band‘s second album, released in 2016. How to Be a Human Being explores characters ranging from an overweight individual with an airwalkie-talkie and speedos to seedy tourists and even space cadets – with each song on this record exploring these complex individuals in turn.
But perhaps Agnes stands out as a standout track on this record. After an intricate buildup of tales of sorrow and bizarre maneuvers, its rousing festival finale can bring goosebumps tingling all over. A perfect end to an extraordinary album and reminder that we never stop growing up!