HARD-Fi release brand new single 'Always and Forever', taken from 'Don't Go Making Plans' EP out Nov 15th via Ignition Records + UK headline tour in November
Hard-Fi today drop their fantastic new single ‘Always and Forever’ – the second track to be taken from their forthcoming Don’t Go Making Plans EP released November 15th via Ignition Records. Featuring 4 brand new tracks plus remixes from The Reflex and Wrongtom, the EP will be available digitally and on limited edition, numbered, transparent red 12” – pre-order here.
‘Always and Forever’, premiered exclusively by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 last night, sees the band deliver a sharp slice of urgency, documenting the feeling that you don’t belong and are running out of time, driven by an ever-infectious guitar riff that is absolutely certain to be a future live favourite. Produced by frontman Richard Archer and long-term contributor Wolsey White, it’s another superb result of the first session together since 2011 album Killer Sounds and follows a series of sold-out tours and live shows over the last two years - listen here and watch the brand-new lyric video here.
Richard says; "Always & Forever is a rose tinted remembering of youth and possibilities, a fantasy of a Hollywood love story in small town Britain and a wistful shout out to doomed romances everywhere."
The band made their extremely welcome return in May with the release of their first track in over a decade with ‘Don't Go Making Plans’. As with many of the band’s songs, there was a thought-provoking depth behind Hard-Fi’s pop sensibility. The song’s defiant themes were initially inspired by the UK Government’s attempts to criminalise many aspects of popular protest through the 2022 Public Order Act, while the issue has been thrown into even sharper focus over the last year as police and people have repeatedly clashed on streets around the globe. Watch the striking lyric video HERE.
The Don’t Go Making Plans EP is released the day before the band embark upon their 10-date UK headline tour in November, culminating with what will be a very special homecoming show at London’s Roundhouse on November 30th - tickets available here.
“Playing gigs together really rekindled the fire at the heart of the band, and as much as we enjoyed playing our older songs – and audiences loved hearing them.” concludes Archer. “We all felt the urge to create something new.”
With over a million UK album sales, 2 Number 1 albums (3 top 10s), and 5 Top 20 singles, Hard-Fi have been a phenomenon. Having made their debut with the Mercury Prize-shortlisted Stars Of CCTV in 2005, the four-piece proved progressive yet accessible, with tales of high street life, club-driven weekends and keeping your head above water on the breadline. The album yielded singles that included ‘Hard To Beat’, ‘Living For The Weekend’ and ‘Cash Machine’ - reached number 1, and has since been certified double platinum in the UK alone.
Second album Once Upon A Time In The West also topped the charts, and included lead single ‘Suburban Knights’, whilst third album Killer Sounds, was a Top 10 hit. The band also played one of the longest residencies at O2 Academy Brixton, a fully sold out feat they share with the likes of Bob Dylan, and The Clash, after performing at the landmark London venue for five nights straight in 2006.
Hard-Fi are back. Catchier, louder and more defiant than ever.
UK TOUR DATES
November
Sat 16th Hastings, White Rock
Tue 19th Portsmouth, Guildhall
Thu 21st Cardiff, Tramshed
Fri 22nd Wolverhampton, Wulfrun
Sat 23rd Nottingham, Rock City
Mon 25th Glasgow, Garage
Tue 26th Sheffield, The Leadmill
Wed 27th Manchester, Ritz
Fri 29th Leeds, Stylus
Sat 30th London, Roundhouse (SOLD OUT)
Don’t Go Making Plans Track Listing
Don’t Go Making Plans
I Know What You Want
Don’t Need You
Always and Forever
Don’t Go Making Plans (The Reflex Revision)
Don’t Go Making Plans (Wrongtom Remix)
Hard-Fi are Richard Archer (vocals, guitars keyboards), Steve Kemp (drums), Kai Stephens (bass) and Ross Phillips (guitars)