One of the best performances I saw at The Great Escape festival earlier this year came from local band Pope Joan in the small backroom of a pub about a bajillion miles away from the rest of the festival. They released the standout track from that evening, 'The Celebration', this week. Listen to both sides of the single below.
The band worked alongside Mike Marsh in the mastering of the new release, who has previously collaborated with the likes of The Kills and Nick Cave. The melodrama of the latter certainly appears to be an influence on both sides of this single.
The darkness descends on 'The Celebration' before its almighty anthemic chorus is unleashed, with hints of a threatening biblical undercurrent. B-side, 'Billy's Bride', opts for a similarly dark approach with tribal beats hounding the listener every step of the way. Together they make this offering one of the year's most compelling singles.
STREAM: Pope Joan - The Celebration by popejoan
STREAM: Pope Joan - Billy's Bride by popejoan
Purchase 'The Celebration' digitally from Amazon.co.uk, iTunes etc.
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