Glass Animals’ new material sounds absolutely bonkers

Glass Animals’ ace debut album ‘Zaba’ was as slinky and sweaty as they come, all tropical rhythms and even-tropicaller nods to jungle life. They’ve been holed up in a studio of late, working on a follow-up - on the evidence of a new teaser video, they’re going all-out bonkers.

It’s as visually imposing as a blockbuster movie trailer, but it’s what fills your ear-holes that really leaves a mark. Gone is the sticky, Alt-J nodding guitar pop of ‘Zaba’ - in its place stands a sound lifted straight out of an 80s sci-fi epic’s basement-dwelling nightclub. All clicking drum machines and chopped-up, pitch-twisted vocals, their first hint at new material since last year’s double-cover-mash-up-thing ‘Gold Lime’ and subsequent Joey Bada$$ team-up ‘Lose Control’ is as batshit as it is fucking brilliant.

Come to think of it, when your last two tracks are a double-cover and a Joey Bada$$ collab, the unexpected should probably be expected.

The Oxford group have also announced “two very special shows” in June. Those are below (with pre-sale tickets available via their newsletter) along with the very-exciting-indeed new trailer.

Catch up with the DIY feature with Glass Animals.

JUNE
15 London, ICA
20 Berlin, Kantine Am Berghain

Glass Animals will play Best Kept Secret (17th- 19th June), where DIY is an official media partner. Tickets are on sale now. Visit diymag.com/presents for more information.