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Stream Dutch Uncles’ new album ‘Big Balloon’ via Noisey

-‘Big Balloon’ out February 17 via Memphis Industries

-Band announces go-karting fan challenge in Manchester

ALBUM STREAM: ‘Big Balloon’
SoundCloud / Noisey

(Photo Credit:  Photo by Sebastian Matthes – click image for high-res version)

Manchester sophisti-pop band Dutch Uncles will release their latest album ‘Big Balloon’ this Friday on Memphis Industries. Stream it in its entirety now via Noisey. Click here for the SoundCloud embed code.

Taking musical inspiration from Kate Bush‘s The Red Shoes, Low-era David Bowie, some other slightly-less fashionable records belonging to their Dads and the eastern European techno discovered by Richards while working in Ukraine last year, the subjects tackled on Big Balloon include austerity cuts, therapy, fried chicken, paranoia and coming to terms with loneliness. It’s the fifth Dutch Uncles studio album and the follow-up to 2015’s acclaimed O Shudder.

Dutch Uncles have announced a special event to launch new record Big Balloon. The band have partnered with TeamSport, a new go karting facility housed underneath Manchester Arena, for a special race day.

The band will challenge fans, friends and foes to race them on the 550 metre multi-level circuit while the album is blared out on the track’s impressive sound system. The cars are of the silent, electric variety, so racers wont miss a note of Big Balloon as they reach speeds of up to 40mph. Prizes including signed vinyl albums, Dutch Uncles t-shirts, and tickets to their March shows are up for grabs for the fastest racers.

The race sessions will start at 2PM on Sunday 19th February, and places are strictly limited. Applicants must register their interest in advance by emailing dutchunclesracing@gmail.com.

Dutch Uncles are masters of the novel album launch: In 2015, O Shudder was launched at a non-league football ground (the band sponsored a match, debuted the album on the stadium’s PA system, and challenged fans to a half-time penalty shootout). And for Out Of Touch In The Wild (2013) they worked with chefs at Manchester burger restaurant Almost Famous to develop a burger in honour of the record.

Dutch Uncles are Duncan WallisRobin RichardsPeter Broadhead and Andrew ProudfootBig Balloon is available to pre-order on limited edition clear 180gm vinyl and CD from the band’s website at www.dutchuncles.co.uk and iTunes

Tour Dates:
18 Feb – Manchester, Low Four Studio, Piccadilly Records Out Store
20 Feb  – Nottingham, Rough Trade In Store
21 Feb – London, Rough Trade East In Store
22 Feb – Bristol, Rise In Store
01 March – Edinburgh, Electric Circus
02 March – Newcastle, The Cluny
03 March – Leeds, The Wardrobe
04 March – Nottingham, Bodega
06 March – Birmingham, Hare and Hounds
07 March – Sheffield, The Plug
08 March – Oxford, O2 Academy2
09 March – Bristol, Fleece
11 March – Brighton, The Haunt
12 March – Southampton, Talking Heads
13 March – London, Village Underground
15 March – Manchester, Dancehouse Theatre
27 Jul – 30 Jul 2017 – Hertfordshire, Standon Calling Festival

(click artwork for high res)

Dutch Uncles
Big Balloon
[Memphis Industries]
Street Date: February 17, 2017

1. Big Balloon
2. Baskin’
3. Combo Box
4. Same Plane Dream
5. Achameleon
6. Hiccup
7. Streetlight
8. Oh Yeah
9. Sink
10. Overton