British pop rock band The 1975 have shared their first single since 2022, a cover of ‘Now Is The Hour’ for the soundtrack of the upcoming Apple TV+ drama series The New Look. Starring Emmy Award winner Ben Mendelsohn, Oscar recipient Juliette Binoche and Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, the series will explore the rise of legendary fashion designers Christian Dior and his contemporaries Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain, and Cristóbal Balenciaga during World War II. Jack Antonoff produced the series soundtrack, which features many of his collaborators and friends covering celebrated songs from the era. Antonoff co-produced The 1975’s fifth studio album ‘Being Funny in a Foreign Language’, and also recorded covers for the soundtrack from other major UK acts such as Florence + The Machine and Beabadoobee.
The 10-song soundtrack’s first single is fronted by Florence + The Machine in a haunting cover of ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ popularised by British singer Vera Lynn. The 1975 followed suit with ‘Now Is The Hour’, a traditional Māori song once used to bid farewell to soldiers leaving to fight in World War I. The piece has been credited to various artists and songwriters over the years but was first made famous in the 1940s and 50s by Hollywood stars like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. The 1975’s Matt Healy offers a hushed, delicate take on the song, with ambient vocals erupting into horns, only to return to a gentle instrumental. The remaining half of the soundtrack features covers from the likes of Perfume Genius, Nick Cave and Lana Del Rey.
The historical drama, which was created by Todd A. Kessler, will span 10 episodes, with the first three episodes set to arrive globally next Wednesday, February 14 on Apple TV+. Meanwhile, The 1975 are set to embark on their upcoming 2024 ‘Still…At Their Very Best’ UK tour this evening, with their first show taking place at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow which has seen superfans camp out overnight in icy conditions.
Despite a series of controversies looming over Healy last year, the frontman has since made a public apology to his fans and those he has allegedly offended. The group boast four sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena, continuing on to their European leg of the tour which will conclude in Copenhagen on March 10. All remaining tickets for the UK tour are available here.
The New Look full soundtrack:
1. Florence + The Machine – ‘White Cliffs Of Dover’
2. The 1975 – ‘Now Is The Hour’
3. Lana Del Rey – ‘Blue Skies’
4. Perfume Genius – ‘What A Difference A Day Makes’
5. Nick Cave – ‘La Vie En Rose’
6. Beabadoobee – ‘It’s Only A Paper Moon’
7. Joy Oladokun – ‘I Wished Upon The Moon’
8. Bartees Strange – ‘You Always Hurt The One You Love’
9. Sam Dew – ‘I Cover The Waterfront’
10. Bleachers – ‘Almost Like Being In Love’
Listen to The 1975’s cover below:
