New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Rounding off a year that kickstarted a triumphantly-received reunion for cult Manchester band The Maple State, the quartet are delighted to announce a brand new AA-side single 'Germany/A Notion' set for release on 10th January 2019.
Following a trio of sold-out return dates around the UK earlier this year, the news comes ahead of a rare pair of December 2018 live dates in Manchester and London this Christmas (see below for listings) with old friends from the embryonic late '00s scene data.select.party.
The four piece have revealed a video for lead track 'Germany' today-a rousing slice of driving indie-punk that leans towards some of the band's heavier influences whilst retaining their knack for a belting melody and a fist-in-the-air chorus.
"I was raised on punk rock; in Manchester in the 90s this wasn't normal," explains front man Greg Counsell about the musical inspiration behind the new material. "I remember thinking it was strange that none of my school friends knew The Damned or The Buzzcocks or The Rezillos. I think I'm the only person on earth who got into folk music as a teenager to rebel against their parents. 'Germany' is my take on the sort of punk rock songs that I was raised on; aggressive but fun."
The new single will be the first new material from The Maple
State since they finally released their chronically-overdue debut album The Things I Heard At The Party in early 2018 after a decade apart, to a flurry of excited fans and press alike. Warmly received by listeners both old and new, the record proved that their shimmering Americana-laced brand of alternative indie-punk remains as relevant and engaging as a decade ago.
A year on since releasing the first track from the album, Counsell recalls that he had no idea what to expect. The band knew that they had made a good record, but they were unsure if anyone would be interested in hearing it after a decade away. With the world feeling like a very different place now to the way they left it in 2008, returning to music seemed like a step into the unknown.
"I saw a lot of post-modernism and overt self-awareness in most contemporary music," continues Counsell of his doubts over their return, "while in contrast our music has always had more romanticism to it—like Shane McGowan, Tom Petty, and Mike Skinner, we write from the heart via the head. I really didn't know how our music would be received in 2018, or if there was even a place in indie/punk rock for the sorts of stories we were telling."
Despite their fears, the band saw reinvigorated support at radio from
Radio X, BBC Introducing, idobi Radio, and Amazing Radio, with a groundswell of fresh media pick up at the likes of Four Four Two Magazine, Clash, Drowned In Sound, UPSET, Manchester Evening News, Punktastic, The Spill, Already Heard, For The Rabbits and many more.
"The response we got to the record was incredible," smiles Counsell, "and I still have to pinch myself when I think about the shows we played. After ten years, playing The Maple
State songs live and hearing an audience sing back at us is something I never thought I would experience again, so not only was this a dream come true, but it really feels like we've become more popular in our absence. We released the album with the intention of providing a nice bookend to The Maple State's legacy, but now it feels like we're just getting started again."
Revamped and revitalised by the ongoing interest in their output, the band are setting their sights on releasing further new music and hitting the road proper again in 2019.
'Germany/A Notion' is released 10th January 2018
The Maple
State live dates:
22.12.18 - Manchester - Deaf
Institute (w/ data.select.party & C33s)
23.12.18 - London - The Old Blue Last (w/ data.select.party)EXT
What the press said about 2018 album The Things I Heard At The Party:
"Wrought with emotion and cleverly-considered composition" - Drowned In Sound [7/10]
"Boldly anthemic songwriting...a crisp, ambitious return" - CLASH
"Charming and relatable...a well-needed hug of an album" - Birthday Cake For Breakfast
"A justification of their cult-legend status...verging on wonderful" - The Soundboard [7/10]
"Full of confidence...an indie-pop classic in the making" - Punk Online
"Down to earth, nuanced melodies...infectiously catchy" - Rockfreaks [7.5/10]
"Awesome...one of our favourites of the year" - Read Junk [⅘]
"A triumph of expansive emo" - Top40-Charts.com
Previous Videos:
Watch the 'Something In The Water' video here: https://youtu.be/bpEtIP-6p7k
Watch the video for 'Winner' here: https://youtu.be/PYwHnHikBG0
The Maple
State are:
Gregory Counsell - vocals and guitars
Christian Counsell - guitar, bass and backing vocals
Richard Higginbottom - guitar and backing vocals
William Pearson - keyboard and backing vocals
Michael Westwood - drums
The Maple
State online:
https://www.facebook.com/themaplestate/
https://twitter.com/MapleStateband
https://www.instagram.com/themaplestate/
https://www.themaplestate.com
