Legendary English pop band Tears for Fears have released a new single entitled “No Small Thing” from their upcoming studio album The Tipping Point. The album is their first in seventeen years and will be released via Concord Records in February 2022. The band has released a music video for the song, which can be viewed below.
“No Small Thing” is the second single that the group has unveiled from the forthcoming record, with the first being the album’s titular track, released on the 7th of October. You can read more about the title track here, and it can be found on all streaming services.
Tears for Fears revealed in a recent interview with NME that personal struggle and trauma was a large inspiration for the record, with bassist/vocalist Curt Smith saying: “It’s been a bunch of years with a lot of turmoil – personally as well as politically – which has given us a lot to write about” referring to the political turmoil surrounding Black Lives Matter in 2020, Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States, and the unfortunate illness and death of bandmate Roland Orzabal’s wife, Caroline.
Smith opened up further about the subject, saying: “It’s incredibly emotional when you’re writing about someone you’ve known for that long. It’s not like an acquaintance or someone you’ve known for a few fears – this was Caroline. This was someone I knew since I was 13 years old; and Roland the same…you’re left thinking about your own mortality and what you can do to allow that to not happen to you. It’s a difficult thing to get over.”
Whilst both carrying an undeniable melancholy in their tonality, “The Tipping Point” and “No Small Thing” are sonically quite different from one another. The title track of the record is a dark pop tune that features ghostly, atmospheric background synths and buzzing electronics that are pulled along by a driving beat, evoking a brooding angst that is perhaps comparable to indie pop titans The National. “No Small Thing” strips things back instrumentally, ditching the electronics for wistful acoustic guitar, a harmonica and a reverberating acoustic drum kit.
To re-iterate, both “The Tipping Point” and “No Small Thing” are available on all streaming services, and you can pre-order the album at this link.
Tears For Fears will also be embarking on a world tour in 2022, which will entail sixteen UK shows. You can read more about their world tour here, and tickets can be found at this link.
