aaamusic | On 02, Sep 2010

Having electrified UK audiences in early August with stellar shows in London and at Standon Calling festival, Montreal based trio Plants and Animals release brand new single – ‘American Idol’ – through Secret City on September 27th.

‘American Idol’ is the second single off their much anticipated debut UK album, ‘La La Land’ and follows hot on the heels of the LP’s first single, ‘The Mama Papa’, which was Radcliffe and Maconie’s single of the week on BBC Radio 2 ((fan voted for P&A in favour of both Band of Horses and Best Coast) and also Nemone’s single of the week on BBC 6 Music.

With its Bowie meets Roxy Music swagger, ‘American Idol’ is a sumptuous slice of arch, Canadian rock ‘n’ roll that blends crunching guitars and a sexed up brass section to magical effect.

‘La La Land’ builds on the eclecticism of the ‘with/avec’ EP, with the psychedelia now more brooding than pastoral, the guitars louder, the grooves smoother, and the sonic subtleties ever more nuanced. Inspired by a rediscovery of electric guitars, amplification and fuzz pedals, the album was recorded at the band’s hometown go-to studio, The Treatment Room and also at Studio La Frette, a dilapidated old mansion just outside of Paris, filled with vintage equipment in the cellar.

The band received thunderous applause worldwide for their debut album Parc Avenue in 2008, which was nominated for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize and garnered praise from everyone from Pitchfork to Danger Mouse, who invited them to open for Gnarls Barkley.

Plants and Animals are Warren C. Spicer, Matthew ‘the Woodman’ Woodley and Nicolas Basque, two boyhood friends from Canada’s East Coast and a weird francophone native. As their name suggests, the band have been a creature of evolution from the start.

After the success of their last run of UK dates, the band returns in September for a full UK tour including a show at End of the Road Festival.

New UK live dates:

Sep 9 – London, Old Blue Last
Sep 10 – Dorset, End of the Road Festival
Sep 20 – Southampton, Joiners
Sep 22 – Brighton,Coalition
Sep 23 – Manchester, The Ruby Lounge
Sep 24 – Glasgow, King Tut’s
Sep 25 – Leeds, The Brudenell Social Club

Plants and Animals are: Warren C. Spicer / Woodman / Nic Basque

www.myspace.com/plantsandanimals / plantsandanimals.ca
www.facebook.com/plantsandanimals / www.twitter.com/plantandanimal