Overmono announce new album Pure Devotion

Brothers Tom and Ed Russell form Overmono. They announce a new album, Pure Devotion, scheduled for release on August 7. The record will be released via XL Recordings. Pure Devotion counts as the duo’s fourth record, counting the EPs Cash Romantic (2022) and Everything U Need (2020).

The first single from the album, “Lockup”, is already available to listen to. Listening to “Lockup” suggests the album will span ethereal jungle, techno, and bass music with heavy sampling influence reminiscent of 1990s rave culture. The album cover features doberman silhouettes photographed by Rollo Jackson.

The duo share behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram about their approach to sound and production, and they describe experimental methods such as treating, recording, and re-amplifying sounds including recording through a Tannoy speaker, using a 1930s train station speaker, running magnetic tape over magnets, and baking a cymbal with coffee grounds, chips, and vinegar.

Overmono, the electronic music duo consisting of brothers Tom and Ed Russell, are set to release their new album, Pure Devotion, on August 7. This marks the duo’s fourth record, following their previous EPs Cash Romantic (2022) and Everything U Need (2020). The album will be released under the major label XL Recordings.

Pure Devotion features an album cover showcasing doberman silhouettes, a photo captured by Rollo Jackson. The first single from the album, “Lockup,” is already available for listeners. The music in this new album is expected to explore genres like ethereal jungle, techno, and bass music, incorporating sampling influences from the 1990s rave culture. Alongside the music, the duo provides a glimpse into their innovative production techniques through behind-the-scenes updates on social media.

Musical style and influences

Listening to the first single “Lockup” suggests Pure Devotion will span ethereal jungle, techno, and bass music, with heavy sampling influence reminiscent of 1990s rave culture.

The duo say: “We were completely fascinated by these very tactile soundscapes, by chaotic mixing choices, by the use of physical processes and spaces, and above all, perhaps, by this approach of trying to break as many things as possible to create something new.”

They describe their methods in detail: “We set up plenty of ways to treat, record, and re-amplify sounds… The voice doesn’t quite sound right? Let’s record it through an old Tannoy speaker in the basement. This synth needs to sound louder? Let’s play it through an old 1930s train station announcement speaker. We ran magnetic tape over magnets, we blew up a few speakers, and finally used that cheap, overclocked effects unit we nicked years ago in Bromley. We even baked a cymbal coated in coffee grounds, chips, and vinegar.”

They also share behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram about their approach to sound and production.

Overmono, comprised of brothers Tom and Ed Russell, employ experimental production techniques to craft their music. For their album Pure Devotion, they emphasize the use of physical processes and unique methods for manipulating sounds. They explored various techniques to treat, record, and re-amplify audio, including using unconventional devices and setups. For instance, if a vocal track does not sound right, they might record it through an old Tannoy speaker in the basement. If a synthesizer output needs to be louder, they might play it through a 1930s train station announcement speaker.

The duo also experiment with running magnetic tape over magnets and have conducted tests causing some equipment to fail, including blowing up several speakers. Additionally, they creatively used a cheap effects unit acquired years ago in Bromley. A notably unique experiment involved baking a cymbal coated with coffee grounds, chips, and vinegar, showcasing their innovative approach to sound design. These methods allow Overmono to create their distinctive tactile soundscapes, reflecting their fascination with chaotic mixing and non-traditional production pathways.

The available sources do not provide this information.

They do not specify the frequency, timing, or specific content of the behind-the-scenes posts shared on Instagram about the album’s sound and production process. No examples, captions, post dates, or direct excerpts from those Instagram updates are included in the materials provided. Nor do the available materials include links, screenshots, or metadata that would identify or locate the Instagram content. Further details about which account posted the content, any comments from the duo on those posts, and the scope of the Instagram coverage are not provided.

CONCLUSION

Overmono’s album Pure Devotion is scheduled for release on August 7 via XL Recordings and follows their earlier EPs Cash Romantic (2022) and Everything U Need (2020) as the duo’s fourth record. The first single, “Lockup”, is already available, and listening to it suggests the album’s music will span ethereal jungle, techno, and bass music with heavy sampling influence reminiscent of 1990s rave culture.

The album cover uses doberman silhouettes photographed by Rollo Jackson. Overmono describe experimental production methods used during recording and mixing, highlighting physical processes and re-amplification techniques such as recording through an old Tannoy speaker and playing sounds through a 1930s train station announcement speaker. They also report running magnetic tape over magnets and baking a cymbal coated in coffee grounds, chips, and vinegar as part of their approach to sound treatment and sampling.