A new year, a new dawn for THE MISERABLE RICH. With their first album in over 13 years on the near horizon, the Brighton indie/orchestral collective today reveal an AA-side single comprising two new tracks due to appear on it.
“Quietly” and “We All Know” showcase two different sides of the upcoming record ‘Overcome’ (out 2 Feb), and arrive with official videos by James Kendall and James de Malplaquet, respectively.
Arriving as a AA-side single, “Quietly” and “We All Know” follows teaser tracks “Crows”, “Glue” and “FHS”, with all of these tracks confirmed to be appearing on ‘Overcome’, the soon-to-be-released fourth studio album from The Miserable Rich.
It took a decade, tragedy, mutual support and, inevitably, alcohol and pizza to get them back together, but the Brighton-based outfit will release the follow-up to 2011’s ‘Miss You In The Days’ on 12 February 2024. Born out of trauma but also a testament to deep friendship and love, ‘Overcome’ was largely recorded at the five-piece’s various home studios by James de Malplaquet (vocals), Jim Briffett (guitars, piano), Will Calderbank (cello, keyboards, piano), Rhys Lovell (double bass) and Martin Deering (drums) with production assistance and mastering from Lotte Lindenberg’s Wolfgang Gottlieb. It also features guest appearances from Alabaster de Plume, Love Supreme Jazz Festival co-founder Jack Kendon (trumpet, vocals), Dan Cartwright (saxophone), Miserable Rich co-founder – also of The Leisure Society, and formerly Hope of The States and Mumford & Sons – Mike Siddell (violin), Jennifer Left, Kelly Barnes and Bex Fidler (vocals).
Featuring twelve new songs, ‘Overcome’ encapsulates all the charms of the band’s earlier string-laden, crafted music, which has seen them garner widespread acclaim and a dedicated fan base. From the exuberant “Ballad Of Young Finn” to the hugely personal “Glue”, the increasingly defiant “Quietly” to the heartfelt closer “Poem For Suzanne”, via the elegant “Penny For” – described by de Malplaquet, perhaps flippantly, as “somewhere between Kruder & Dorfmeister and Supertramp, where we’ve always belonged!” – it’s an unmistakable sound, blending elements of indie folk and chamber pop. This time, however, piano, electronics and brass add to their customary mix of acoustic instruments, whether on the rambunctious folk-pop of “FHS”, which boasts an unlikely New Orleans twist, the richly textured “Everything Bright And New” or the hushed “If Only”, with the latter pair featuring Alabaster de Plume on saxophone.
Released digitally and on standard weight black or blue vinyl, ‘Overcome’ will be available through their own label, Rags To Ruins, via all major streaming platforms and digital stores on 2nd February 2024.
Following a momentous comeback show at Brighton’s Hope & Ruin last month, The Miserable Rich will be airing their new material at a limited series of in-store dates next month.
