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Angel in Realtime
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Angel in Realtime
Angel in Realtime is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Gang of Youths, released on 25 February 2022 through Mosy Recordings. Written over the four years following the death of frontman David Le'aupepe's father, the album lyrically focuses on the emotions that arise from mourning, coming to terms with loss, and discovering family identity in the Pacific Islands. It consistently uses vocal and instrumental samples from Indigenous musicians collected by explorer David Fanshawe, marking a significant sonic departure from their previous album, Go Farther in Lightness (2017).
Supported by a world tour commencing in Dublin in March 2022, Angel in Realtime became the band's second album to debut at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album was lauded by many critics, who particularly praised the lyricism and storytelling. Multiple outlets recognised it as the band's best work, however some found issue with the length and density. Angel in Realtime was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Group and Best Rock Album at the 2022 ARIA Music Awards, while winning Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards.
Angel in Realtime was preceded by four singles, as well as "Unison" and "The Angel of 8th Ave." from Gang of Youths' second EP, Total Serene (2021). The latter track polled at number six in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2021, while the third single "In the Wake of Your Leave" reached number eight in the 2022 countdown. Three of the album's tracks would later be re-recorded as part of the band's following EP, Immolation Tape (2022).
Following the release of their second studio album Go Farther in Lightness (2017), Gang of Youths relocated to London. In 2018, Teleso Le'aupepe, the father of frontman David, died of cancer. On his deathbed, he hinted that there were a number of secrets to be discovered in Polynesia – a surprise to his family, as Le'aupepe had always been insistent of his upbringing in New Zealand before settling in Sydney. David Le'aupepe and his wife travelled to Samoa, where it was revealed his father had disappeared to Australia in the 1970s, leaving behind two sons. This story is later recited in the album's piano ballad, "Brothers".
In 2019, founding member and guitarist Joji Malani amicably left the band. The following year, multi-instrumentalist Tom Hobden of Noah and the Whale joined as violinist. In July 2021, the band surprise released their second EP Total Serene, containing three tracks. Two of them – "The Angel of 8th Ave." (June) and "Unison" – would be included on Angel in Realtime. The former debuted at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and would later poll at number six in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2021. Total Serene was the first collection of new music from Gang of Youths since Go Farther in Lightness.
Angel in Realtime was recorded in various countries and took four years to complete. It was primarily self-produced at the band's studio in London, however Peter Hutchings and Peter Katis are also credited for production on two tracks – Katis had mixed their first two albums. With Le'aupepe as lead songwriter, the other band members had not heard the bulk of the lyricism until the final two weeks recording – he finished writing "Goal of the Century" the morning it was due to be produced.
Sonically, the album relies heavily on samples of Indigenous music from the Pacific Islands, collected by English explorer and composer David Fanshawe. The band received permission from David's wife to use the recordings. Lead single "The Man Himself" employs recordings of an Imene tuki, a polyrhythmic hymn, from Mangaia in the Cook Islands. "In the Wake of Your Leave" features backing harmonies from the Auckland Gospel Choir and percussion by a number of drummers from the island, while "Spirit Boy" interpolates musician Shane McLean "speaking a Kōrero poem in the track's breakdown before it gets swept up into string-laden revelry".
Penultimate track "Hand of God" transitions into "Goal of the Century" – referencing Diego Maradona's suite of goals at the 1986 World Cup. The former features only Le'aupepe on vocals and piano with the gospel choir, while the resplendent final track hosts over a dozen guest musicians as well as the Budapest Film Orchestra on strings.
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Angel in Realtime
Angel in Realtime is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Gang of Youths, released on 25 February 2022 through Mosy Recordings. Written over the four years following the death of frontman David Le'aupepe's father, the album lyrically focuses on the emotions that arise from mourning, coming to terms with loss, and discovering family identity in the Pacific Islands. It consistently uses vocal and instrumental samples from Indigenous musicians collected by explorer David Fanshawe, marking a significant sonic departure from their previous album, Go Farther in Lightness (2017).
Supported by a world tour commencing in Dublin in March 2022, Angel in Realtime became the band's second album to debut at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album was lauded by many critics, who particularly praised the lyricism and storytelling. Multiple outlets recognised it as the band's best work, however some found issue with the length and density. Angel in Realtime was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Group and Best Rock Album at the 2022 ARIA Music Awards, while winning Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards.
Angel in Realtime was preceded by four singles, as well as "Unison" and "The Angel of 8th Ave." from Gang of Youths' second EP, Total Serene (2021). The latter track polled at number six in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2021, while the third single "In the Wake of Your Leave" reached number eight in the 2022 countdown. Three of the album's tracks would later be re-recorded as part of the band's following EP, Immolation Tape (2022).
Following the release of their second studio album Go Farther in Lightness (2017), Gang of Youths relocated to London. In 2018, Teleso Le'aupepe, the father of frontman David, died of cancer. On his deathbed, he hinted that there were a number of secrets to be discovered in Polynesia – a surprise to his family, as Le'aupepe had always been insistent of his upbringing in New Zealand before settling in Sydney. David Le'aupepe and his wife travelled to Samoa, where it was revealed his father had disappeared to Australia in the 1970s, leaving behind two sons. This story is later recited in the album's piano ballad, "Brothers".
In 2019, founding member and guitarist Joji Malani amicably left the band. The following year, multi-instrumentalist Tom Hobden of Noah and the Whale joined as violinist. In July 2021, the band surprise released their second EP Total Serene, containing three tracks. Two of them – "The Angel of 8th Ave." (June) and "Unison" – would be included on Angel in Realtime. The former debuted at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and would later poll at number six in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2021. Total Serene was the first collection of new music from Gang of Youths since Go Farther in Lightness.
Angel in Realtime was recorded in various countries and took four years to complete. It was primarily self-produced at the band's studio in London, however Peter Hutchings and Peter Katis are also credited for production on two tracks – Katis had mixed their first two albums. With Le'aupepe as lead songwriter, the other band members had not heard the bulk of the lyricism until the final two weeks recording – he finished writing "Goal of the Century" the morning it was due to be produced.
Sonically, the album relies heavily on samples of Indigenous music from the Pacific Islands, collected by English explorer and composer David Fanshawe. The band received permission from David's wife to use the recordings. Lead single "The Man Himself" employs recordings of an Imene tuki, a polyrhythmic hymn, from Mangaia in the Cook Islands. "In the Wake of Your Leave" features backing harmonies from the Auckland Gospel Choir and percussion by a number of drummers from the island, while "Spirit Boy" interpolates musician Shane McLean "speaking a Kōrero poem in the track's breakdown before it gets swept up into string-laden revelry".
Penultimate track "Hand of God" transitions into "Goal of the Century" – referencing Diego Maradona's suite of goals at the 1986 World Cup. The former features only Le'aupepe on vocals and piano with the gospel choir, while the resplendent final track hosts over a dozen guest musicians as well as the Budapest Film Orchestra on strings.