News

Giant Swan return with first new music in nearly two years, drop techno banger 'RRR+1'

The duo have announced a full five-track EP

Giant Swan have returned with their first new music in almost two years.

'RRR+1' is a four-to-the-floor techno banger which prefaces their five-track EP set for release in January 2023, 'Fantasy Food'.

The track consists of heavy pulsating drums, chopped-up vocal samples plus echoing kicks and synth lines setting precedent for the highly-anticipated EP.

Read this next: Get to know Giant Swan, the duo with riotous live sets and releases that match

"We definitely had the intention of writing music that we felt was more 'focussed'," they explain on the forthcoming record. "I suppose in that regard the tracks came out more uncompromising, certainly pertaining to how they fit more into a 'techno' sensibility of structure and timbre."

"Having played a few of them out in DJ sets they definitely serve as more functional than some previous releases, but I like the notion that they're uncompromising. I feel we struggle to compromise our vision of dance music and this EP is our most direct instruction to the dancefloor."

The band also touched on their use of voices as an interesting notation for 'Fantasy Food': "This record actually has the most unorthodox treatment of voices yet. My voice is on a couple of tunes, and we've sampled more intonation than actual vocal ranges on others. “Boasting” is probably the first time we've chosen not to use vocals on a more functional track. The human element is ubiquitous with our approach to the music we make. In the live setting, the humanity is laid out in an almost uncomfortable way, whereas on record we're able to use the versatility of vocals in a more diverse way."

Read this next: Giant Swan announce self-titled debut album

The band lay in a unique position where they appeal to both electronic folk, but also to fans of hardcore punk and rock-oriented sounds, having toured relentlessly pre-pandemic supporting The Horrors and IDLES, whilst playing events such as Berghain and Glastonbury.

They're currently amidst playing a plethora of live shows. From now through March, they're set to appear in London, Istanbul, Belfast, Bristol and Dublin, fresh from playing Madrid, Glasgow and Lisbon.

Listen to Giant Swan's new track 'RRR+1' here, where you can also pre-order their forthcoming EP, 'Fantasy Food'.

Niamh Ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Twitter