Empire Of The Sun - Alive : New Single
Following in the tradition of Katie Steele, her much more famous brother is back with a brand new album from his side project Empire Of The Sun. I use the term side project loosely, because when your side project becomes more successful than your original band (The Sleepy Jackson) then by default... wouldn't the less successful outfit become your side project? But I digress...
Empire of the Sun have release the first long awaited single from their new album, titled "Ice On The Dune". Duo Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore have been off the radar for quite a while after breaking through with their self titled album (when you're mentioned on Entourage, I assume you've broken through, right?) and keeping in tune with their unorthodox methods their press release announcing the album was a doozy!
You can watch it below...
By and large it's an electro Indiana Jones style adventure. Very weird, very them and in no way an example of how the music and arts industry waste a whole lot of money that could have been put to better use feeding some orphans.
The video wasn't the only weird thing... it came with some of the truly most bizzarre text you've ever seen on a press release.
In the words of Ricky Gervais in Extras "You 'Avin A Laff?!"
Here's some excerpts: "With the aid of their four priests, who possessed spirits of wild animals, they traveled the world tirelessly, maintaining nature's delicate balance, allowing all things to grow and flourish — always with the aid of the sacred jewel held atop the Emperor’s crown".
It doesn't end there kids!
It goes on to say "But one night, as the Emperor slumbered, recovering from his labors, true darkness appeared. The King of Shadows, ever the bitter foe of the Empire, and all it had achieved, crept into their temple. Craving the Emperor’s power, he stole the jewel from his crown – and in an instant the world was changed.
Robbed of the bulk of his power, the Emperor and the Prophet watched helplessly as their temple was torn asunder, and their priests cast far out into the world. But even in that moment, when all appeared lost, there was one thing that the King of Shadows’ black heart simply could not have imagined… The Emperor and the Prophet had never abandoned hope".
Look I get and appreciate what they are doing. The musicians are seprating themselves from the product, they are creating persona's not unlike that of Daft Punk. These Empire of the Sun folks are entities unto themselves. And that's all well and good... but it does border on a tad wanky.
Anyhew. The new single is titled "Alive" and it retains all the hallmarks of a good EOTS track including A big hook, overblown production, electronica and a good ol' fashioned choir!
So check it out below - as well as a look back to when Luke Steele was still in the Sleepy Jackson and not some one man art instilation!
Empire Of The Sun will be appearing at Vivid LIVE on May 30 and 31 at Sydney’s iconic Opera House and will also play shows in the US in May and June, before heading over to the UK to headline Wilderness Festival in August
