BERRIES – Balance (Xtra Mile Recordings)
Ahead of their self-titled second album dropping in October London’s BERRIES release a second single in Balance, stretching beyond their usual sound while underpinning all they do so well
Artist: BERRIES
Track: Balance
Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
Released: 6 September 2024
Find it: Spotify
It’s an opinion often repeated that second albums are difficult ones, but if Balance – the second single to preceed the release of BERRIES eponymously titled second album – is anything to go by any challenge has been met head on.
For Balance is the antithesis to their usual sound: eschewing distorted guitars for laid bare acoustica and sweet vocal harmonies.
The band said of the track: “Balance talks of those promises we make ourselves. Filling our time with things we want to do, not just need to do. It’s quite easy to get caught up in busy schedules, rushing around with busy brains but this song reminds us to stop and take it all in.”
Balance is set to sit at the midpoint of the new album – itself being heralded by the band as a ‘raw, honest, and a true reflection of BERRIES‘ – further giving it the feeling of a long held breath exhaled deeply with relief. As a band who have mastered raging guitars and relentless beats this it seems is the stillness at the centre of their storm.
There is a folk-feel to the track as the acoustic melody cycles weaves around the soft-edged vocals. As backing vocals join, the song fills out further. It may have been outside of the band’s comfort zone to take this direction but what a payoff. A great track taken as a single release, but also a tantalising glimpse of the creative exploration and statement the band are making with the forthcoming album.
Balance sits sonically in opposition to earlier single Watching Wax, released at the start of summer. This is far more of the sound we’ve come to expect from the band, and is giving an assured swagger showing them growing in confidence with what they do.
The band said of the album, set for release in October, “We really pushed ourselves creatively and out of our comfort zone, especially with the acoustic track and working with mixing engineer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, Everything Everything). We’re super proud of what we’ve written and created.”
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Balance by BERRIES is out now. The self-titled second album is out on 18 October 2024 on Xtra Mile Recordings.
Find BERRIES: Website | Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Upcoming live dates:
- 23 October – Prince Albert, Brighton
- 24 October – Bodega, Nottingham
- 25 October – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
- 26 October – Gullivers, Manchester
- 29 October – Thekla, Bristol
- 30 October – The Lexington, London
- 31 October – The Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich
- 1 November – Heartbreakers, Southampton
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Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
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