Public Service Broadcasting today unveil the video for the first single from their upcoming second album, The Race For Space.
A brassy, funk-heavy superhero theme song for the most famous man in the world at the time, ‘Gagarin’ reveals a new side to the band – not least their considerable dancing skills.
Once again given access to newly acquired BFI footage, this time of the Soviet space race, PSB’s J. Willgoose, Esq. explained the rationale behind the song: “We didn’t want to be too literal in our interpretation of the material we were given – material that was full of heroic language and a sense of exuberance, with lines like ‘the hero who blazed the trail to the stars’, and ‘the whole world knew him and loved him’. It seemed more appropriate to try and re-create some of that triumphant air with a similarly upbeat song – and when it came to creating the video, the best way we could think of to communicate that sense of joy was to get our dancing shoes on.”
With both a 6-piece brass section and 5-piece string section in tow, ‘Gagarin’ also signals a broadening of Public Service Broadcasting’s sound, making it a somewhat surprising return for this apparently reserved British duo. “We wanted to surprise people, and show that there is a depth and breadth to our musical interests and influences that goes far beyond our first album”, Willgoose continues, referencing the group’s Top 30 UK debut LP Inform – Educate – Entertain, released in May 2013.
‘Gagarin’ is the first single from the new album, and will be available on 1 December as a free download for anyone who pre-orders a copy of The Race For Space, out 20 February 2015.
The video for ‘Gagarin’ is directed by Alex Kemp, produced by Tony Powell and was shot in PSB’s south London homeland.
See PSB live in Ireland on;
Sunday 3rd May Mandela Hall, Belfast
Tuesday 5th May Button Factory, Dublin
Tickets on sale here.
www.PublicServiceBroadcasting.net
