Bristol-based band LIFTER has announced their debut album, “Clasping Hands with the Moribund,” set to release on October 25th, 2024. Alongside this announcement, they’ve dropped a new single, “I Have Done My Waiting.”
The band, consisting of core members Harry Fanshawe (formerly of Modern Rituals) and producer Miles Ward, recorded the album with contributions from musicians like Angus James (The Death of Pop), Chris Hicks (Swelt), and several others.
The single and album feature a blend of influences ranging from slowcore to folk and indie rock, with references to artists like Picastro, Megafaun, and Bill Callahan. This new direction marks a departure from the band’s earlier, more rugged sound, drawing comparisons to Silver Jews and Sparklehorse.
“Clasping Hands with the Moribund” captures the band’s evolution through lineup changes and musical experimentation over the past 18 months. Recorded in various locations, including St Dunstan’s Church in South Bristol, the album showcases the group’s adaptability and collaborative spirit.
Frontman Harry said of the track, “I was at the end of an era of something in my life when I wrote ‘Waiting’, about how things would be different now, and whether we’d look back and think we’d not made the most of what we had when we had it.”
He continues, “The song came together fairly quickly musically, but once the track’s structure was completed, we made adjustments and played it with various different musicians. The result is the inclusion of two different drummers, a violinist, a cellist, a cornet player, Rhodes piano, slide guitar, amongst others.”
LIFTER has also announced a UK headliner tour this fall, with dates running from late October to early November. The band has become a fixture in Bristol’s music scene, performing at local festivals like Simple Things and Ritual Union, and supporting acts like Bar Italia and Wednesday.
LIFTER are Harry Fanshawe (vocals, guitar), Angus James (guitar, vocals), Olive Featherstone (vocals), Chris Hicks (guitar), Miles Ward (bass), Anna Strudwick (cello) and Oli Cocup (drums).
Tour Dates
Sunday September 15th @ Moor Beer, Bristol (solo show)
Saturday September 28th @ Taunton Together Arts Festival (Festival)
Saturday October 19th @ The Ill Repute, Bristol
Friday October 25th @ The Finsbury, London
Saturday October 26th @ Dubrek, Derby
Wednesday October 30th @ Suburbia, Southampton
Thursday October 31st @ Common Ground, Oxford
Friday November 1st @ Grayston Unity, Halifax
