Naima Bock announces second album ‘Below a Massive Dark Land’, shares two lead singles
NAIMA BOCK ANNOUNCES SECOND ALBUM BELOW A MASSIVE DARK LAND, OUT 27 SEPTEMBER VIA SUB POP/MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION
SHARES VIDEO FOR LEAD SINGLE ‘KALEY’ AS WELL AS ACCOMPANYING SINGLE ‘FURTHER AWAY’
ANNOUNCES FULL UK TOUR IN NOVEMBER AS WELL AS EUROPEAN DATES
“Giant Palm is at once a statement of Naima Bock’s enormous ambition as a solo artist […] and at the same time a celebration of the communal”
The Quietus ‘Music Of The Month’
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases”
8/10 The Line of Best Fit ‘Album of the Week’
“A record as unique as Bock’s history”
8/10 Loud and Quiet ‘Album of the Week’
Watch the video for ‘Kaley’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wl20YHYO7o
Watch the visualiser for ‘Further Away’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aef-C3MCkEc
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On September 27th Naima Bock will release Below a Massive Dark Land worldwide through Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. Her second album, Below… comes as the follow up to Giant Palm, one of 2022’s most critically acclaimed debuts. Along with the album announcement Naima has shared the Cassidy Hansen directed video for lead single ‘Kaley’ as well as accompanying single ‘Further Away’ along with visuals by Gaia Alari. ‘Kaley’ received it’s first play earlier today on Lauren Laverne‘s BBC 6 Music show.
The success of Giant Palm led to a mammoth period of touring. With headline tours including London’s EartH and support shows for artists such as A. Savage, J. Mascis, Squid, Katy J Pearson, Rodrigo Amarante, Arab Strap, This is the Kit and more, Naima’s feet have hardly touched the ground since 2022. Today, fresh off the back of a solo tour with Porridge Radio‘s Dana Margolin, Naima has today also announced a full UK tour in November which includes two shows in London at St Pancras Old Church and The Ivy House as well as a number of dates around the UK and European dates throughout December. Full dates and tickets below.
Speaking of the tracks Naima says:
“Kaley was written whilst staying at a friend’s house in Tucson, or at least it was finished there. It’s about betrayal and the subsequent lack of direction that follows. At the time there was no ‘plan’ or ‘way’ that I had for myself, let alone anyone else.”
“Further Away was written in Greece whilst trying to learn mini bouzouki and missing someone.”
‘Kaley’ feels fresh and surprising in its rug-pull choppiness but is distinctly Naima in its swinging, jubilant choruses. Meanwhile from it’s humble beginnings ‘Further Away’ is fleshed out just enough while drawing you irresistibly near in its simplicity.
Below a Massive Dark Land was predominantly produced by Jack Osborne (Bingo Fury) and Joe Jones, recorded at The Crypt in north London, with additional production and arrangement by Oliver Hamilton (caroline, Shovel Dance Collective) and Bock herself. Six of the tracks on Below… were mixed by Jason Agel, with the remainder done by Osborne and Jones. The album was mastered by Kevin Tuffy.
Most of the writing of Below a Massive Dark Land, was a solitary affair. It may not sound it – it’s made up of strong, lovingly rendered arrangements with a huge host of musicians; filled with cradling space and warm light. This will come as a surprise to anyone who has seen Naima perform in the time since the release of her 2022 debut Giant Palm, undoubtedly a communal experience.With a band of ten, three, or even just solo, when Naima plays there’s a rare bond between the musicians on stage and the audience. In their interview with her, The Quietus declared “after every song the applause and cheering is immense, so immense in fact that it seems to be coming from a different place than the usual formalities of a live show, a link between performer and artist forged somewhere deeper and more personal”.
It’s true though, most of Below…’s songs started life very simply; Naima alone, living in her grandmother’s shed in South London, writing just with her voice, guitar and violin. She’s no violin virtuoso but had taken it up as a songwriting exercise for its ability to draw melodies from her – a trick that undoubtedly worked, these are songs that drift into the back of your mind and settle there like fallen leaves, songs you wake up singing. The remainder was written on the road after those moments of audience connection, in the quiet that follows.
There’s power in the solitary, too. Giant Palm was arranged with collaborator Joel Burton, but going it alone in search of something truly hers, Naima found she was capable of more. “After me and Joel stopped working together”, she remembers, “it was an impossibility to even fathom doing arrangements myself, but then I started learning violin. Playing it isn’t easy but writing melodies on it is”. Finding that she could go it alone was incredibly powerful for Naima, “I think I needed it, to be able to feel proud of something. Like, that’s me! That feels good”.
Once that writing portion is over, though, this ends. The record is not a stark, stripped-back affair. Below… still has that majesty that made Giant Palm so remarkable. Tugging the first record down from the skies and spreading it across the earth; there’s a newfound vocal power and confidence born from hundreds of hours on stage, and the music sounds fuller, more tangible, but no less enveloping.
Below a Massive Dark Land will be available on CD/LP/DSPs and is available now for preorder from Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. LP preorders through Mega Mart 2 and select independent retailers worldwide will receive the Blue Jay coloured vinyl, while stocks last.
Pre-order Below a Massive Dark Land here:
https://music.subpop.com/naimabock_belowamassivedarkland
Photo credit: El Hardwick
High-res images can be found here
Below a Massive Dark Land tracklist:
1. Gentle
2. Kaley
3. Feed My Release
4. My Sweet Body
5. Lines
6. Further Away
7. Takes One
8. Age
9. Moving
10. Star
Tour dates:
14 Aug – St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock +
22 Aug – Los Angeles, CA @ Barnsdall Gallery Theatre w/ Angel De Augustine *
24 Aug – Ojai, CA @ TBA *
8 Sep – Portland, OR @ Music Millennium (instore) *
13 Sep – Walla Walla, WA @ Billsville West *
15 Sep – Seattle, WA @ The Rabbit Box *
21 Oct – Boston, MA @ Warehouse XI *
23 Oct – Philadelphia, PA @ The Parish Room (First Unitarian Church) *
25 Oct – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool *
6 Nov – London @ St. Pancras Old Church +
7 Nov – Bristol @ Jam Jar
8 Nov – Liverpool @ Leaf
9 Nov – Newcastle @ Cumberland Arms
10 Nov – Glasgow @ Mc Chuills
12 Nov – Leeds @ Hyde Park Book Club
13 Nov – Manchester @ Deaf Institute
14 Nov – Cambridge @ Storey’s Field Centre
16 Nov – Falmouth @ The Cornish Bank
17 Nov – Frome @ The Tree House
18 Nov – Exeter @ Cavern Club
20 Nov – Ipswich @ St Stephens Church
21 Nov – London @ The Ivy House
3 Dec – Lille, FR @ L ‘Aéronef
4 Dec – Brugge, BE @ Cactus Café
6 Dec – Haldern, DE @ Pop Bar
7 Dec – Hamburg, DE @ Nachstasyl
8 Dec – Berlin, DE @ Neu Zunkunft
10 Dec – Cologne, DE @ Subway
11 Dec – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
12 Dec – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
13 Dec – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire
+ Duo with Oliver Hamilton
* Solo
All other shows full band
Tickets are available here:
https://naimabock.com
Praise for Giant Palm:
“Giant Palm is at once a statement of Naima Bock’s enormous ambition as a solo artist […] and at the same time a celebration of the communal”
The Quietus ‘Music Of The Month’
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases”
8/10 The Line of Best Fit ‘Album of the Week’
“A record as unique as Bock’s history”
8/10 Loud and Quiet ‘Album of the Week’
“A real gem”
Stereogum ‘Album of the Week’
“This album has an unforced charm, making it an ideal accompaniment to long summer nights”
4/5 The Times
“Exquisite solo debut”
4/5 Mojo
“Ten tracks that occupy their own lifeforce, almost set in motion by the elements”
4/5 DIY
“Sharply observed, sumptuously arranged”
7.8 Pitchfork
“Quiet, melancholy and occasionally divinely uplifting”
Uncut
“Exquisite […] a truly special listen”
Clash
“A ray of optimism”
The Guardian
“The fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own”
New York Times
“A compelling first step into the spotlight that suggests great things to come”
The Forty Five
“Bock’s music is like discovering you have a false wall when renovating your house. That, once knocked down, reveals a chamber of trinkets to unearth”
Secret Meeting ‘Single of the Week’
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars”
For The Rabbits
“A mightily impressive introduction”
God Is In The TV