Birds of Tokyo kicked off 2020 with the string-garnished ‘Two Of Us’. ‘Two Of Us’ joins the other recent singles ‘Good Lord’, ‘Unbreakable’ and ‘The Greatest Mistakes’ on Birds’ sixth studio album, Human Design.
Human Design will be out on April 24. Birds of Tokyo‘s last studio LP was 2016’s Brace. The new record marks a shift in direction for the Perth band. Lyrically the record reflects on a tumultuous period in frontman Ian Kenny’s personal life.
“These four singles we’ve released over the last 18 months have each been very personal and direct in different ways”, Kenny said in the album announcement.
Birds announced their return with ‘Unbreakable’ in October 2018. It began a drip feed of singles – ‘Good Lord’ arrived in March 2019, ‘The Greatest Mistakes’ in August 2019 and ‘Two Of Us’ in late January. All four songs will appear on Human Design, as well as seven brand newies.
Watch: Birds of Tokyo – Unbreakable
“It’s great that they seem to have struck deep chords with lots of people but in the first instance I was just writing words to stop myself going nuts,” Kenny said of the public’s response to the four tracks. His sublimation of pain into song is particularly evident on ‘The Greatest Mistakes’.
“It was thirteen months ago / When I went through hell alone / I must be fucking insane,” Kenny sings. However, the song isn’t wholly steeped in pain and suffering. It draws out a resolution to not beat oneself up, despite the errors of the past. “All my failures are the reason I am who I am,” he sings in the song’s bridge.
Watch: Birds of Tokyo – The Greatest Mistakes
Kenny co-wrote the songs with guitarist Adam Spark. Spark in turn co-produced the record alongside Scott Horscroft. Horscroft and Spark previously teamed up to produce Birds’ 2010 self titled LP. Birds of Tokyo’s symphonic tour comes to Perth, Sydney and Melbourne this June.
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Birds of Tokyo Symphonic Tour 2020
Friday May 1
Perth Concert Hall w/ West Australian Symphony Orchestra SOLD OUT
Saturday May 2
Perth Concert Hall w/ West Australian Symphony Orchestra SOLD OUT
Sunday May 3
Perth Concert Hall w/ West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Thursday May 7
Sydney Town Hall w/ Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Friday May 8
Sydney Town Hall w/ Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Saturday May 9
Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West Hq w/ Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday June 3
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall w/ Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Thursday June 4
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall w/ Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Tickets via birdsoftokyo.com
