Cult Scottish alt-rockers Teenage Fanclub have returned with a new single – Home – their first release in four years. The indie veterans unveiled the video for the new track on YouTube today, filmed at the historic Leith Theatre in Edinburgh.
Home, the lead single from the band’s forthcoming album Endless Arcade, incorporates the melodic guitar sound which first endeared the band to a dedicated cult following in the 1990s. Three members of the original Teenage Fanclub line-up remain in post: singer-guitarists Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley, and drummer Francis MacDonald – who returned to the group in 2000 after an eleven year absence.
The band’s last record, 2016’s Here, became their third to reach the top ten in the official UK Albums Chart. The four years following release have seen the Bellshill outfit undergo some major personnel changes.
Original Fanclub bassist Gerard Love departed the band in 2018, later telling The Scotsman that he had reached the difficult decision to leave in part because of doubts about international touring commitments. In an admirably honest interview, he said “As much as I like touring and being in other countries, it’s the getting there that kills me. I do it when it’s necessary but I’m anxious about flying – once you lose connection with the earth I start to panic.”
Long-term band member Dave McGowan has now taken over bass duties from Love; while there is a new kid on the block in the shape of renowned Welsh musician Euros Childs, formerly the frontman with fellow 1990s’ cult favourites (and former Fanclub touring partners) Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. Pembrokeshire-born Childs, who had previously collaborated with Norman Blake as part of their two-man side project Jonny, formally joined the band in 2019.
Blake told Bad Feeling Magazine that Childs was a natural fit, saying: (Euros) is kind of like one of the gang, he’s been around the band for years. We’ve toured together, he knows our aesthetic, he’s a really cool guy and easy to get along with. And so we approached Euros and asked if he would be up for playing keyboards, and he said yes. And he’s also a great singer. So it didn’t feel like someone was replacing Gerry (Gerard Love), because Dave (McGowan) was moving around to bass, you know? It kind of softened the blow of that.”
The band’s latest record Endless Arcade hits the shelves on March 5th 2021; having had its original 2020 release date pushed back as a consequence of the pandemic. The celtic five-piece will take the album on the road around the UK and Europe, with the full list of tour dates and tickets available via the Teenage Fanclub website here.
Endless Arcade, the new brand album from Teenage Fanclub, will be released 5th March 2021.
Pre-order over here >>>https://t.co/iA8nINx8sH pic.twitter.com/89SkKFt8GS
— Teenage Fanclub (@TeenageFanclub) November 11, 2020
In a Twitter preview of Endless Arcade, Resident Music hail the record as “Quintessential TFC“; adding that “there’s nothing quite like The Fannies to assuage the mind, body & soul & reaffirm that all’s not lost in the world.” Meanwhile Rough Trade describe it as a “gloriously sweet pop album.”
