Daniel Avery’s last album, Together In Static, came out of nowhere — a surprise release based on his live shows at London’s Hackney Church.
On Ultra Truth, he’s taking a different approach — both in content and in form.
“Chaos Energy” was the title of the first release from the album — a trippy video created by Claudia Rafael that strips and sharpens the intensity of Avery’s epic track to the point of stone-cold sober hallucination. The single heralds Avery’s extraordinary new album due to hit the shops in November from Mute and Phantasy Sound.
Ultra Truth is both sophisticated and wild — a composed mise en scène but with the curtains and the stage risers engulfed in flames. Avery points to the album’s theme being one of confrontation.
“My previous albums have all focused on the idea of music being an escape or a distraction from the world,” Avery says, “but that’s not the case this time. For me this album is about looking directly into the darkness, not running away from it. There’s a way through these times but it involves keeping the important people in your life close to you and navigating the noise together.
“This is an intentionally heavy and dense album, the hooks often hidden in dusty corners. I’m no longer dealing in a misty-eyed euphoria. Ultra Truth is a distorted fever dream of a record: riled, determined and alive.”
The fifteen track album includes vocal contributions from luminaries including HAAi, Jonnine Standish, AK Paul, Marie Davidson, Kelly Lee Owens, Sherelle and James Massiah.
“I’m working with an entirely new world of sound on this record,” Avery says. “Every single influence from the last decade spent on the road plays a part. Things that have been in the back of my mind forever, warped, distorted and pushed to a new place.”
In addition to the standard album tracks, both the CD and double 12″ clear vinyl versions of Ultra Truth contain a hidden track exclusive to each format. “Chaos Energy” is available now; the full album release will be out in all formats on November 4. Pre-orders via mute.com are available now.
Photo: Steve Gullick
This was originally published in #Expansion: 5 Mag Issue #199 with Dance System, Lester Fitzpatrick, Roots Underground and more. Support 5 Mag by becoming a member for as little as $1 per issue.
