A new year, a new dawn for THE MISERABLE RICH. With their first album in over 13 years on the near horizon, the Brighton indie/orchestral collective today reveal an AA-side single comprising two new tracks due to appear on it.
“Quietly” and “We All Know” showcase two different sides of the upcoming record ‘Overcome’ (out 2 Feb), and arrive with official videos by James Kendall and James de Malplaquet, respectively.
Watch 'Quietly' here:
With the band correctly describing “Quietly” as “a little pocket rocket”, it’s a song whose sparse and starry acoustic guitar beginnings soon erupt into a vibrant display of cascading violins sections, ebullient percussion, and stirring guest vocals courtesy of Jennifer Left.
Arriving as the result of Jim Briffett initially trying to write a “happy tune” for the new Miserable Rich album, the emergent track is instead one of human resolve in the face of adversity; a recurrent theme on their latest outing ‘Overcome’. As James de Malplaquet explains:
“I was writing about Sarah and I – but clearly everyone has been through a challenging time over the last few years and the themes do seem like they might resonate. I think it’s actually quite a traditionally British sensibility – but I am quite sure there are people everywhere just going about their business despite the heartache they carry.”
On the flipside is another ‘Overcome’ highlight, the majestic ‘We All Know’. Written by the band’s Will Calderbank and James de Malplaquet with guest backing vocals from Bex Fidler, it’s a simmering, slow-burner that shines bright amidst these long nocturnal hours of Winter. Growing from spacious piano motifs, ticking percussion, and celestial arrangements, it’s a song that also leaves plenty of room for intimate reflections on our shared human experiences. As James elaborates:
“This was an early one of Will’s. I remember after the first rehearsal, crowd-sourcing things we all experience for the lyrics. Little did I know a global pandemic would appear and add quite a few new things to the list. The video was shot at the school I work at. Mostly around the Swedish Christmas celebrations for Lucia, which I have always thought are lovely but also quite creepy.”
