4,000,000 Telephones New Single ‘Hard Man’ To Be Released Friday September 24
4,000,000 Telephones New single ‘Hard Man’ To Be Released Friday September 24, 2021 via download through Bandcamp
Formed in 1983 and now nearly forty years on, 4,000,000 Telephones re-engage with some previously unreleased material that is as relevant today as when it was recorded back in the eighties. The five surviving members of the original line-up have been listening through the band’s archives and have decided that it’s entirely appropriate to release the previously unheard track, ‘Hard Man’ recorded in 1986.
‘Hard Man’ was/is an uncharacteristically upbeat, melodic song with a big dollop of irony; a satirical response to the emergence of the “hard men” of the 1980’s; from the reactionary backlash against post-war progressive and social gains, aggressive domestic and foreign policies, to the possibility of getting thumped of an evening because someone’s team had lost earlier that afternoon. From pitch to politics, hard men were and continue to be, problematic.
To mark the single, the band recorded a video earlier this year in their home town of Lincoln. The newly produced video will be released alongside the single on Friday September 24. This will be the third release for 2021, seeing the band spring back into action after being dormant for many decades.
Plans are afoot to release an album featuring their previously unreleased material later in the year and as well as their back catalogue, the band will also be recording new material.
4,000,000 Telephones gained national press in the UK, regularly featured in Melody Maker and play-listed by John Peel and Janice Long on BBC Radio 1. NME featured the band as most likely candidates for better things, before proving them wrong. They also toured Germany gaining national German music press. 4,000,000 Telephones are a collision of six minds from different musical directions creating a fascinating melée of musical styles that delighted and baffled by equal measure. As well as the more contemporary elements of punk and funk that were widespread at the time the music was also interjected with moments of country, jazz, pop and progressive rock.
“It was one of the best concerts and never, not for one second, boring. For years I haven’t seen a concert where so many albums are spontaneously bought and the cool guys queued to get them signed.” (Communale – German Music Press)
“Tipped as hot property on the indie scene… there is something excitingly different hidden beneath…” (NME)
“Singing of worldly things from the point of view of another planet…. off the hook and strangely engaging, 4,000,000 Telephones are the answer to all your hang ups.” (Sounds)
“They burn with rare intensity and come close to carving out a perverse identity of their own” (Melody Maker)
