THE CHAMELEONS : ‘Where Are You?’ – video for title song of brand new EP by influential UK post-punk act made available
4 min read
The Chameleons released an EP entitled ‘Where Are You?’ last Friday (24th May), which contains the first brand new music by the Manchester-formed post-punk legends for 23 years. They have today issued a video for its hard-charging title track, which has been directed by Martin Swinney at Periscope.
“The band was scattered to the four winds at the time, so a more traditional form of video was out of the question given the time frame,” states vocalist/bassist and band co-founder Mark Burgess. “We therefore went with a more abstract collage and tried to convey the compulsion many of us have to search through life for the things that we feel define us, in this case true love, or moments of connection to each other, or elements that hint at a deeper reality. ‘Where Are You?’ is the ‘you’ that punctuates meaning in my life.”
WHERE ARE YOU?
new EP
out now
(Metropolis Records)
limited edition 12” vinyl available at live shows
“It’s exciting to finally be putting out fresh Chameleons material for the first time in over twenty years, although initially I found it quite daunting,” Burgess admitted recently about their brand new three song EP, ‘Where Are You?’, which is out digitally on Metropolis Records (a limited edition 12” vinyl format is also being sold at live shows by Strange Times Entertainment). “The question about new music is one I had been asked the most by people coming to our gigs. Many weren’t even born when our previous records were made, but they were excited and inspired by the music enough to catch us on various tours.”
An artful combination that embraces past glories while opening their arms to creative expansion, ‘Where Are You?’ slots neatly into their oeuvre. Led with an arresting trademark guitar hook, Burgess’ familiar and immediately recognisable vocals soar effortlessly over the tight precision of the rhythm section, seemingly never missing a beat since their last studio album in 2001. “By the time we’d got through COVID, Reg [Smithies, guitarist] and I had a very solid band in place, people whose talent we trusted in to bring out the best in whatever ideas we were able to get off the ground,” affirms Burgess. Recapturing their magical sound that combines post-punk, indie rock and shoegaze elements proved to be no struggle.
“For the first time since the death of John and the departure of Dave, I felt we were a proper band capable of creating some interesting and exciting music,” he explains, reflecting on the passing of original drummer John Lever in 2017 and the departure of Dave Fielding after the band’s reunion in 2000 (Burgess and Smithies explored different solo avenues before returning to The Chameleons fold that year).
The EP also includes the shimmering and mesmerising ‘Endlessly Falling’ and contemplative acoustic ballad ‘Forever’. Of the former, Burgess reveals that “it is one of the first songs we ever wrote but never completed until now. I always liked it and wanted to record it for the first John Peel sessions, but it got vetoed and discarded.”
The EP acts as a teaser for an upcoming album entitled ‘Arctic Moon’ that is planned for late 2024. “We’re halfway through it at the moment, but everyone in the band is excited by what they’re hearing. We’ve managed to transcend the confines of our own legacy and finally forge something fresh. It’s undoubtedly The Chameleons to everyone that has heard the direction the band is now heading in,” he concludes.
The Chameleons begin a North American tour tonight (30th May) that will celebrate their 1986 album ‘Strange Times’. The schedule continues into December and includes a London show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and ends at the Albert Hall in their home city of Manchester. The UK and European itinerary for 2024 is:
JULY
06.07.24 BOLTON Right To Roam
AUGUST
28.08.24 BEDFORD Esquires
29.08.24 BRIGHTON Chalk
30.08.24 HOLMFIRTH Picturedrome
SEPTEMBER
10.09.24 AMSTERDAM (NL) Melkweg
11.09.24 THE HAGUE (NL) Paard
12.09.24 BIELEFELD (DE) Movie Bielefeld
13.09.24 OBERHAUSEN (DE) Turbinenhalle Oberhausen
14.09.24 HAMBURG (DE) Gruenspan
15.09.24 BERLIN (DE) Columbia Theater
17.09.24 FRANKFURT (DE) The Bed
18.09.24 MUNICH (DE) Backstage Kulturzentrum
19.09.24 LYON (FR) L’Epicerie Moderne
20.09.24 PARIS (FR) Cabaret Sauvage
21.09.24 TOURCOING (FR) Le Grand Mix
DECEMBER
06.12.24 BRISTOL Marble Factory
07.12.24 LONDON O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
09.12.24 DUBLIN (IE) Opium
10.12.24 BELFAST Limelight 2
12.12.24 GLASGOW The Garage
13.12.24 NEWCASTLE Riverside
14.12.24 MANCHESTER Albert Hall
The Chameleons have long been cited as a hugely influential act, having inspired the likes of (The) Verve, Oasis, Interpol, The Killers, Editors, White Lies and The Slow Readers Club. They are renowned for their transformative recorded catalogue and intense and emotionally charged live performances, creating a legacy that extends well beyond four studio albums issued to date. Their widely acclaimed debut, ‘Script of the Bridge’ (1983) has been described by many as a masterpiece way ahead of its time, and was followed by ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically!’ (1984), ‘Strange Times’ (1986) and ‘Why Call It Anything?’ (2001).
The band’s unique sound has been captivating listeners for over four decades with a unique mix of melancholic yet energetic and powerful tunes, hypnotic ethereal riffs and a timeless lyrical style. One of the most important yet underrated rock bands of the 80s and 90s, they have contributed substantially to the post-punk, indie rock and shoegaze scenes of those decades and beyond.
THE CHAMELEONS
Mark Burgess – vocals, bass
Reg Smithies – guitar
Stephen Rice – guitar
Danny Ashberry – keyboards
Todd Demma – drums
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* THE CHAMELEONS | Mark Burgess photo by Mick Peek
