I consider Go Farther in Lightness one of the most important albums of the 21st century. I was instantly captivated by its poetry, its ambition, and heart. Since its release, Gang of Youths have quite rightly taken the world by storm. They’ve packed so much into the last five years that it was no surprise to me that it’s taken so long for the follow-up, angel in realtime. I haven’t anticipated an album’s release so much in years. But I couldn’t help wondering, how do you top an album that set the bar so high? Like this. Just like this.
The opening number “see you in everything” sets the scene, taking us to the funeral of frontman Dave Le’aupepe’s father. It’s confronting and powerful, setting the wheels in motion. This is an album about death and grief, and the way that we deal with it. It’s that messy difficult stuff that people and society don’t want to deal with, but Gang of Youths brings it out of the darkness and into the light. Dave lays his loss and the journey through it bare. In “brothers” we learn truths about his father and family that were only brought to light after his passing. In “the man himself” we’re taken into Dave’s psyche as he contemplates how to navigate the world without his father.
Every song on angel in realtime. is deeply personal and introspective. Yet while they address specific moments in his experience, they are so relatable. Death is the great unifier. If we haven’t yet lost our parents, we can already imagine the seemingly unbearable pain. This album doesn’t shy away from that, but it also celebrates the love, the connection to people and culture. Listening to angel in realtime. is a cathartic experience. It’s painful at times, but so uplifting. This album is bold and majestic and beautiful. It’s a triumph. And I can’t stop listening.
angel in realtime. is out now. Gang of Youths are playing almost everywhere this year. No matter where you are, make sure you see them.
28 February 2022 – HMV, Manchester (signing)
28 February 2022 – Crash Records, Leeds (signing and acoustic performance 5pm and 6:30pm)
1 March 2022 – Rough Trade East, London (signing and acoustic performance)
3 March 2022 – Button Factory, Dublin
5 March 2022 – Riverside, Newcastle
6 March 2022 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
8 March 2022 – Beckett, Leeds
9 March 2022 – O2 Academy, Bristol
12 March 2022 – O2 Institute2, Birmingham
13 March 2022 – Albert Hall, Manchester
15 March 2022 – O2 Academy, Brixton
21 April 2022 – Majestic Theatre, Madison
22 April 2022 – The Vogue, Indianapolis
24 April 2022 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
25 April 2022 – Mercury Ballroom, Louisville
27 April 2022 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro
28 April 2022 – The Underground, Charlotte
1 May 2022 – The Basement, Nashville
3 May 2022 – Metro, Chicago
4 May 2022 – The Shelter, Detroit
6 May 2022 – The Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
7 May 2022 – L’Astral, Montreal
9 May 2022 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston
10 May 2022 – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn
12 May 2022 – Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia
13 May 2022 – Union Stage, Washington, DC
16 May 2022 – The Fillmore, San Francisco
18 May 2022 – Belasco Theater, Los Angeles
20 May 2022 – 24 Oxford, Las Vegas
21 May 2022 – Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
23 May 2022 – Scoot Inn, Austin
24 May 2022 – The Echo Lunge and Music Hall, Dallas
26 May 2022 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa
3-5 June 2022 – Rock im Park @ Zeppelinfeld, Nuremberg
3-5 June 2022 – Rock am Ring @ Nürburgring, Nürburg
2 July 2022 – Down The Rabbit Hole, Ewijk
10 July 2022 – TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow
30 July 2022 – RAC Arena, Perth
3 August 2022 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
6 August 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
12 August 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
14 August 2022 – A More Perfect Union Festival @ Regatta Grounds, Hobart
16 August 2022 – Hunter Lounge, Wellington
17 August 2022 – Powerstation, Auckland
20 August 2022 – A More Perfect Union Festival @ Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point
13 September 2022 – The Rave II, Milwaukee
14 September 2022 – First Avenue, Minneapolis
16 September 2022 – Delmar Hall, Saint Louis
17 September 2022 – The Bottleneck, Lawrence
19 September 2022 – Gothic Theatre, Englewood
20 September 2022 – Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
22 September 2022 – Revolution Hall, Portland
23 September 2022 – Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver
25 September 2022 – Neumos, Seattle
27 September 2022 – Ace Of Spades, Sacramento
25 October 2022 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
26 October 2022 – Gloria Theater, Cologne
2 November 2022 – Gruenspan, Hamburg
3 November 2022 – Kesselhaus, Berlin
6 November 2022 – AB Box, Brussels
7 November 2022 – Nouveau Casino, Paris
Main photo credit: kingArthur_aus @ Flickr