TULIPOMANIA – “THEN AND ONLY THEN”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
Philadelphia is traditionally known for a whole array of music genres that have come to blossom over the past 70 or so years, but today we turn out attention to an artist who is actually making music in an entirely different realm. In fact, there is also an otherworldly element to their music and, if we could represent this as the sonic output of a famous director, it would certainly be David Lynch.
Today we have the pleasure of presenting the latest single and video from the art-rock duoΒ Tulipomania. TitledΒ βThen and Only Thenβ, this eerie poetic single previews their new recordΒ Dreaming of Sleep, which will be released in mid-November by Sursumcorda Records.Β Here numerous bands of yesteryear come to mind, including Pere Ubu, Jah Wobble, Talking Heads, Wire, Roxy Music and Wolfgang Press.
And like a good Lynch film, Tulipomania serves up a dystopian atmosphere that is drifting and cavernous, igniting oneβs imagination, while the accompanying video is a fantastic shadowplay, involving a series of painstakingly crafted still images.
Alternately categorized as cult synth punks, glam-leaning, post-punk, art-rock and muscular chamber pop, Tulipomania isΒ Tom MurrayΒ (lead vocals, synthesizer, electronic percussion) andΒ Cheryl GeloverΒ (synthesizer, background vocals), who first began their collaboration through projects for experimental film and animation classes. Β The duo now known as Tulipomania has evolved from those experiences.
“Memory is malleable β the song explores mutability. Lyrically, it’s an internal struggle Β β sonically it projects that energy into the external world.
Catharsis. Of course, hat strategyβs effectiveness is debatable β that’s the fun of it for those who can appreciate the irony β “knock yourself out.” We do however believe the ultimate failure is apathy β never give up β the stakes are too high,” saysΒ Cheryl Gelover.
Tom MurrayΒ adds, “Itβs about wearing yourself out trying to answer the unanswerable. Dealing with endless, groundless self-serving tales. Deciding to keep moving in the absence of a clear destination. Meditative frustration. Finding a groove to loop into β not answering is the answer.”
Earlier, the duo released the album’s lead trackΒ βYou Had to Be Thereβ, followed by a remix by UK music legendΒ Martyn WareΒ (Heaven 17, Β The Human League) andΒ Charles Stooke, which is featured onΒ WIRE Magazineβs cover-mounted Wiretapper CD compilationΒ for October.
ItsΒ animated music video, featuring lip sync, original footage and vintage footage shot frame by frame, all collaged on sheets of black paper – is an official selection at theΒ CutOut Fest International festival of animation and digital artΒ from taking place this Nov in Mexico. Their fifth album, βDreaming of Sleepβ , sees the duo nearly fully immersed in electronic means of creation. With cover artwork byΒ Michael Speed,Β senior designer atΒ Beggars Group London, this record involves Executive ProducerΒ Howard Thompson,Β renowned for his contributions as a record industry executiveΒ (Elektra, Island, Almo Sounds), having discovered and/or worked with such artists asΒ Adam and the Ants, Billy Bragg, MC5, MΓΆtorhead, PiL, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, The Sugarcubes, Suicide, among many others.
Described as βartistic and inventiveβ and βgorgeous’, Tulipomania’s animated music videos have been featured in film festivals worldwide. Numerous such festivals have already showcased this new video as an official selection, including theΒ Leeds International Film FestivalΒ (UK),Β StopTrikΒ (Croatia, Poland),Β AniFilmΒ (Czech Republic),Β InsomniaΒ (Russia) andΒ MalatestaΒ (Italy) with theΒ Montreal International Animation Film Festival – AnimazeΒ awarding it an Honorable Mention.
Tulipomania also created animated music videos βΒ βHushβΒ andΒ βShock To The BodyβΒ – forΒ Cabaret VoltaireΒ founder / frontmanΒ Stephen MallinderΒ in support of his solo albumΒ ‘tick, tick, tick’Β (out now viaΒ Dais Records).
As of October 26,Β βThen and Only ThenβΒ is available everywhere, includingΒ Spotify,Β Apple MusicΒ andΒ Bandcamp. On November 17, the full Dreaming of SleepΒ album will be released on CD, vinyl and digitally. It can be pre-ordered viaΒ Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Tulipomania
Cheryl Gelover – keyboards and vocals
Tom Murray – bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals
Produced and recorded by Tulipomania and Richard Hartline
Howard Thompson – Executive Producer
Film directors / animators – Cheryl Gelover and Tom Murray
Cover artwork created by Michael Speed
Publicity byΒ Shameless Promotion PR
Please also Tulipomaniaβs two most recent (and award winning) videos:
Tulipomania
[Single]
(Sursumcorda Records)
Release Date: October 26, 2023
ArtistΒ Links
Background Photo Credit: Tulipomania
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