Next month, pop-punk rockers Slowly Slowly will release a double LP collection pairing their 2020 album 'Race Car Blues' with an entirely new album titled 'Race Car Blues – Chapter 2' (limited to a run of 500 copies worldwide).
The genesis of the second record occurred in late 2019 when the group recorded 'Low', a song that didn't fit the rest of the 'Race Car Blues' catalogue, but did hint at the creative direction the band were forging."What we first envisaged as background information that assisted in connecting the dots of Chapter 1 soon became its own entity and has actually planted a few seeds," frontman Ben Stewart says.
"In retrospect, some of those pieces that didn't quite feel like they fit on the original album have served as great stepping stones to where Slowly is headed.
"Chapter 2 pushes the envelope a little further in every direction: heavier, more pop sensibility and a deeper dive into intimate solo songs.
"This is and has always been the ultimate aim for Slowly Slowly, to celebrate the music we love – anthemic, heart on sleeve songwriting – but across a broad spectrum of genres. Having no creative ceiling for this project only pushed that ethos further."
A taste of what fans can expect of Chapter 2 is the group's newest single 'The Level'.
"This song is about fighting your instincts, a head vs heart battle," Ben adds.
"It's about not wanting to be swept up in whimsical emotion, stay grounded and be pragmatic about the situation – all while butterflies swim around in your stomach.
"Look out for the two hidden Springsteen lyric references in here!"
Slowly Slowly will tour nationally in June (rescheduled dates from their postponed 2020 tour) as well as appearing at Live At The Bowl (Melbourne) in March and slots at Full Tilt Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane.
'Race Car Blues Extended Edition' double LP is released 26 February. Pre-order it.
Race Car Blues – Chapter 2 Tracklisting
1. Comets & Zombies2. The Best Bits
3. Learning Curve
4. Low
5. House On Fire
6. The Internet
7. Restless Legs
8. First Love feat. Yours Truly
9. Set The Table (The One That Got Away)
10. The Level
11. Small Talk
12. Anywhere
Slowly Slowly 2021 Tour Dates
Fri 4 Jun - Manning Bar (Sydney)Sat 5 Jun - The Triffid (Brisbane)
Fri 11 Jun - 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Sun 13 Jun - 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Fri 18 Jun - Lion Arts Factory (Adelaide)
Sat 19 Jun - Badlands Bar (Perth)
Fri 25 Jun - Altar (Hobart)
Sat 26 Jun - Saloon Bar (Launceston)