The resurgent Cast will release their brand new album ‘Love Is The Call’ on February 16th, which they today preview by sharing the new single ‘Love You Like I Do’. The band’s frontman John Power set himself a unique challenge when writing the album: to create a body-of-work which possesses the zest and vibrancy of a brand new band, but also with the experience, perspective and tightly-honed musicianship that comes with years of experience.
As a result, ‘Love Is The Call’ feels like an album that’s in tune with his past – not only with Cast but with the highly influential The La’s – but also one that he couldn’t have written back when timeless songs such as ‘Alright’, ‘Walkaway’, ‘Sandstorm’ and ‘Flying’ made them regular fixtures around the top of the singles chart.
While the ‘Love Is The Call’ album feels like a singular immersive journey from start-to-finish, it certainly doesn’t sit in one space. From the sparse beguiling beauty of ‘Bluebird’ through to the melancholy slowburner ‘Tomorrow Calls My Name’ via anthemic, driving classic rock (‘Rain That Falls’), vehement punk ‘n’ roll (‘I Have Been Waiting’) and punchy Merseybeat infectiousness via an indie-pop lens (‘Look Around’), it’s a set that lives up to John’s ambition to make one more great album. While it simmers with life-affirming energy, some of its lyrics touch upon the passing of time and the impermanence of life.
John Power says, ““If I was to write a debut record for the band now that captures that energy then this would be it. A psychedelic pop record with a rockabilly beat and a bouncing bass. Somewhere between the end of The La’s and the beginning of Cast there lay this space that I’d yet to explore. ‘Love is the Call’ is that album. It’s that space. A cosmic call to arms, for ‘Love is the Call’.. Calling… Calling.”
The new single ‘Love You Like I Do’ showcases the inimitable flair that John established his reputation with, this time delivering an instantly captivating hook with swooning Beatles-tinged vocal harmonies and some Byrds-esque jangly guitars complete with the exuberant energy of Cast’s live shows.
He adds, “‘Love You Like I Do’ is a twisting psychedelic love song that stretches itself between the emotions of a love forever felt and a love forever lost. Uplifting choruses, jumping Bass lines and sonic guitars cascading. You know life sometimes has a way of showing that these precious things you have, were never meant to last… to last… to last.”
‘Love You Like I Do’ follows the album’s recent title track in building anticipation for its release. That song resulted in a fresh wave of airplay – Jo Whiley at Radio 2, Craig Charles at 6 Music, John Kennedy at Radio X and a playlist at Absolute A20s – as well as news coverage from NME, This Feeling and Brooklyn Vegan.
John Power wrote the songs that feature on the album before its sound was expanded and finessed alongside the rest of the band: Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson (guitar) and Keith O’Neill (drums). Its bright, sun-kissed sound was elevated during sessions in Granada, Spain with the Grammy Award winning producer Youth at his Space Mountain studios. John also recorded the bass parts for the album, a decision that evoked memories of his work on The La’s self-titled album. The band felt that they had created the best work of their career, a view which it turned out was shared by Creation Records legend Alan McGee.
‘The Love Is The Call’ album is available to pre-order HERE on digital, CD & Vinyl.
Cast recently announced details of the following headline tour next March, limited tickets for which remain available HERE. The band’s summer festival schedule is also taking shape, while John will also play next year’s Britpop Classical shows alongside members of Ocean Colour Scene, Levellers, The Bluetones and Republica as well as a full live orchestra.
The band’s upcoming headline shows are:
MARCH 2024
1st – Glasgow, SWG3
2nd – Manchester, O2 The Ritz
8th – Birmingham, O2 The Institute
9th – Leeds, O2 Academy
15th – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
16th – Liverpool, Mountford Hall
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