'Like a messed-up version of ABBA’ – Das Koolies return…

August 10, 2023
UK Music News
by Desh Kapur UK-Editor/Photographer

Das Koolies: Pain Down The Drain – OUT NOW

Debut album: DK.01 – Released Fri 22 September 2023
Vinyl / CD / Digital

Strangetown Records in association with Amplify Music

daskoolies.co.uk

Rocking and rolling in ‘like a messed-up version of ABBA’, the four-piece techno-by-psych-by-glam machine of mayhem that is Das Koolies tear it up with the latest track to be lifted from their forthcoming album, DK.01. Giving in to the elements, Pain Down The Drain takes inspiration from sidewards rain, misty rain and acid rain in a just over three minute, glitterball-lit stomp that turned bitter when all they wanted to write about was love.

Das Koolies started the year with the release of their debut EP, The Condemned, opening the door wide for their maiden album campaign that hits its peak when DK.01 is released in full on Fri 22 September 2023. Seeing the stepping-stones of convention laid out ahead of them, the four piece – comprised of Huw ‘Bunf’ Bunford, Cian Ciarán, Dafydd Ieuan and Guto Pryce – have instead jumped into the deep, fast-flowing waters of audio exploration to release singles as individually wild and wonderful as Best MIndf*ck Yet and Nuthin Sandwich.

Bringing orchestral samples into contact with fuzzed guitars and floating mantric vocals over an incessant, elbow-swinging groove, Pain Down The Drain turns the band’s brake-less juggernaut into an avenue where 70’s, flare-swinging abandon sits on the knee of modern technology. Turning to meteorological inspirations, the band overshot their target of writing about romance in the rain, finding accidental gratification in the opposite.

The band states: “The main theme is a song about rain. Living in the UK we are all experts on the subject. It’s an attempt at a rain-inspired love song that failed, turning out bitter and melancholic instead. It tries to address our obsession with nostalgia, ending up like a messed-up version of ABBA. Strange.”

The four Das Koolies last appeared on stage together in December 2016, as members of Super Furry Animals, but now look forward to a number of debut live appearances around the release of DK.01. Their first, three announced shows, with hints of more to come, will be THREE in-store appearances at Rough Trade shops confirmed as follows:

Fri 22 Sep – Rough Trade East, London

Mon 2 Oct – Rough Trade Bristol

Tue 3 Oct – Rough Trade Nottingham

Tickets for all dates are available now via DICE. For information on future dates, sign up for updates at daskoolies.co.uk

Pain Down The Drain was produced by Das Koolies and mixed in collaboration with MPG (Music Producer’s Guild) UK Music Producer of the Year 2022 Marta Salogni (Bjork, Depeche Mode).

DK.01 will be released in multiple physical formats, including Dinked collectors’ edition recycled coloured vinyl with bonus 7″, Bandcamp and Indies recycled coloured vinyl, black recycled double vinyl, CD and digital.

To be the first to know about upcoming Das Koolies releases and events, connect with the band online at:

FOLLOW DAS KOOLIES

Desh Kapur UK-Editor/Photographer

My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago

'Like a messed-up version of ABBA’ – Das Koolies return…

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