Parisian indie-pop group LATER. are back with a shimmering new album, 'Golden Bay', released on 17th January. The record is accompanied by a mesmerising live session video for the track 'Cold Touch'.
The album artwork, depicting four figures suspended above an infinite stretch of sand, provides a visual clue to the album's themes. 'Golden Bay' delves into the sacred, the transformative nature of music, and love as a portal to inner discovery. It's a dreamlike journey into a realm of instinct, passion, and liberation.
Sonically, 'Golden Bay' is a captivating blend of electronic-pop, gospel, and rock. Synthetic sounds weave seamlessly with organic elements, creating a warm, immersive experience that draws the listener into LATER.'s creative world. The lyrics are a potent mix of sensuality and raw honesty, retaining the emotional vulnerability that has become synonymous with LATER.'s music.
The band explain the journey of creating the album: “'Golden Bay' was conceived as a trip. After our first album, we struggled to find our musical direction. We created countless demos – nearly forty or fifty – more than ever before. Then, Paul struck upon a guitar riff that unlocked something in our creative process. It was a revelation, and it became 'Open the Gates', the album's opening track. From that initial melody, everything unfolded. We envisioned prominent synths for a levitating sensation, powerful uplifting guitars, and lyrics that captured the almost spiritual high we experience when making music."
"The studio transformed into 'Golden Bay', our sanctuary where we could surrender and liberate ourselves. It's a pop album at its core, but with a raw energy and carefree spirit preserved through the use of live sounds. We hope listeners will embark on a trip with us, feeling what we feel in the studio at 3am when inspiration strikes, and you become the conduit for something beautiful.”
LATER.'s story began unconventionally in a Pigalle studio, where Charles, Paul, Noah, and Theo united by their shared love of music, formed a bond over endless coffee breaks and shared dreams. The band defies categorisation, fusing English lyrics with their French heritage, and drawing inspiration from pop, soul, French touch, and rock to create intimate, spontaneous, and richly produced music.
Their journey has been remarkable, from their first single 'L.Y.E' released by Kitsuné in 2019, to two EPs and their debut album with Cookie Records, garnering significant radio play across Europe. Their music has even reached the International Space Station, shared by astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Featured in Netflix shows like 'Emily in Paris' and 'Never Have I Ever', their debut album 'Walking on the Line' (2023) showcased a band unwilling to be confined by genre. Their 'Walking on the Line' tour culminated in a sold-out show at Paris's legendary La Cigale.
With 'Golden Bay', LATER. invite listeners to join them on a sonic adventure, an exploration of creativity, passion, and the transcendent power of music.
Stream the album today, and find LATER. on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
