Indie-folk five-piece Bottlemoth are excited to announce the release of their upcoming debut album ‘Even us ghosts’ due for release October 17th 2024 to limited edition vinyl.
Bottlemoth formed in January 2024 and have already performed alongside The Dangerous Summer, Cold Years, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun and Adult Leisure.
The band cut their teeth touring the UK under a previous moniker, playing tour supports with Slow Readers Club and festivals such as 2000 Trees, Isle of Wight and Glastonbury. Their releases so far have amassed over 180,000 streams and have been celebrated by the likes of Far Out Magazine, Clash and God Is In The TV.
Influenced by artists such as Manchester Orchestra, The Gaslight Anthem, The Wonder Years and Frightened Rabbit, their sound is honest and heartfelt, emotive and dynamic.
The album’s previous singles ‘Tattoo’, ‘You’ll Always Have Us // Everything Works Out In the End’ and ‘Landslides (people change)’ have seen Bottlemoth championed by the likes of Fame Magazine, RTE, The Most Radicalist and Spotify editorial’s Hot New Bands and Apple’s New In Rock.
Their debut full-length was written and produced by the band themselves, with additional recording with Joe Marsh at Orchard Studios and mixing by Adrian Hall (Tori Amos, Bess Atwell, Nova Twins, Cassia).
Commenting on the writing process, vocalist and lyricist Ethan Proctor says: “‘Even us ghosts’ is a step in an unexpected direction for the band. Initially I wanted to make a heavier sounding album, and what we created was something quite different to that initial vision. I was listening to lots of bands like The Wonder Years, the first Four Year Strong records and my favourite record by Manchester Orchestra ‘Cope’. In all of them there is something special in the lyrics and guitar work. It’s crunchy, the voices are real and melancholic, and I wanted that in our sound. Rather than chase a sound I thought we wanted, we followed the ideas flowing, and leaning into the unknown took us somewhere we are really proud of. The songs feel honest, but with an energy that is less angsty – remaining hopeful and uplifting.
The arrangements came together around laptops whilst producing and recording, rather than in a loud practice room which was a first for us. This new approach helped to be creative with different instrument pallets, additional layering and gave us time to properly share our ideas.”
Lyrically the album explores contemporary themes, digging deep into the complexities of living in your twenties; Coming into your own independence, heartbreak, returning home, navigating mental health and celebrating love, friendships and those who matter most.
“Like many of our friends, we’d become twenty somethings living with our families again, and there are a lot of complexities to that; Feeling fortunate to have those people, but the contrasting feeling of becoming a burden. It progressed the themes and images in the writing process, with oceans and ‘the deep’, a direct comparison to sinking emotionally, and tall skylines being the opposite hopes and joy. The album title ‘Even us ghosts’ summarises the record well for just three words. Without speaking for the whole band, across my life I have felt like a ghost in a very loud world. I wouldn’t say I’m spiritual, but the comparison I find inspires a lot of topics for writing. In change and challenge, loneliness in the most crowded places, hoping to always be there for those you care for, the feeling you’re not enough. That last theme manifests a lot. I don’t think we get an answer to the questions of what is enough across our album, but we are talking and that’s something,” adds Ethan.
Alongside the album comes its final single ‘Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies’, a melancholy yet uplifting number that serves as a reminder that even on your worst, most lonely days, connection with the people around you can pull you through.
Even us ghosts is due for release on October 17th 2024 and will be available on all major streaming platforms and limited edition vinyl.
“Living in London was a strange and wonderful experience personally. I felt connected to a place that felt incredibly important and fast, but also surprisingly alone sometimes in massive swells of crowds. This song opens with a sample of the London underground, reversed and processed behind the drums – just as it made me feel then. The title of the track cements the album theme, skies being our hopes and dreams against oceans and the deep being the things we pull ourselves down into; with the things in our head we can’t control.
Where oceans swallow your skies, in hungry tides,
even the worst days soon pass by.
Everyone you need is already here, and I think it’s easy to forget that. We are the lucky ones to know that.”