Mercury-winning indie veterans Elbow have returned with a meditative new single, “The Seldom Seen Kid,” from their forthcoming album Flying Dream 1. Flying Dream 1 will be the band’s ninth studio album and is set for release on November 19.
Those well-versed in Elbow’s music will notice that the single shares a title with the band’s 2008 triple-platinum, Mercury Prize-winning fourth album. The album was titled after the nickname of Mancunian musician and close friend of the band, Bryan Glancy, who passed away suddenly in 2006, and the single has a similar subject matter, as frontman Guy Garvey explains:
“It struck me that Bryan meeting my wife Rachael would have been something to witness, a joint charm offensive of grand proportions as both are proud and brilliant and a little bit naughty. In my mind at that point, there was no better thing than watching my best friend dance with the woman I love.”
Speaking about the recording process, he said: “Whilst we were recording, the realities of lockdown meant that I often only got to hear the music the lads had been making in their homes in Manchester late at night when the house was still. The first thing I heard was what you hear, the drums leading into a beautiful, daring, woodwind arrangement. I was expecting a piano, not a clarinet, but Craig’s creation perfectly encapsulated my mood at that point and the lyrics came out in the order you hear them.”
Alongside the release of “The Seldom Seen Kid,” the band shared a video of them recording the song during the Flying Dream 1 sessions in Brighton’s Theatre Royal. The clip is taken from a forthcoming documentary focusing on their unusual recording process for the album, and you can watch it above.
Earlier this year, Elbow also released a collection of rare tracks to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed debut album Asleep In The Back.
Flying Dream 1 is out on November 19 and is available for pre-order.