Seasoned folk darlings Tinpan Orange have today announced their fifth studio album, Love Is A Dog (set for release April 8), alongside its breathtaking first single, ‘Rich Man’ (out February 12). The virtuosic trio will hit the road to celebrate the release kicking off at the Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA) on April 15, moving through Tasmania, Melbourne, Mullumbimby, Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin, Fremantle and finishing up in Adelaide on June 5.
Over a year in the making, Love Is A Dog is a luscious and intricate concept album with soaring string arrangements, thoughtful, sparse guitar hooks and Emily Lubitz’s delicate, show-stopping voice. Produced by the band in collaboration with Harry James Angus (The Cat Empire, Jackson Jackson), and mixed by the renowned Adam Selzer (M.Ward, She & Him, Jolie Holland) at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, the album presents a vulnerability and a beauty that captivates and inspires. Love Is A Dog explores the paralysis of privilege, the precariousness of having too much to lose and the pain of loving someone too much.
The stunning lead single, ‘Rich Man’ is inspired by a sad, over-satiated character who is surrounded by great wealth but locked into a loveless relationship. It has a dark, rambling quality, championed by Lubitz’s first ever recorded exploration of her falsetto range. “When I first heard the final mix, I had the feeling that it could have been used as a Bond theme if David Lynch was directing,” says guitarist Jesse Lubitz. The single is accompanied by a simple yet intriguing video. Directed by Jam Nawaz of Jam Design (Remi, Tully on Tully) the clip depicts mysterious hands thrusting fur, gold and pearls upon a wealthy housewife (played by Emily Lubitz), until the very end, where she removes all in defiance, unadorned and free.
To celebrate the release of Love Is A Dog, Tinpan Orange will embark on a national tour in April and May of 2016. Enthusiastic about the current lineup of the band, Emily Lubitz says: “We are enjoying playing as a trio at the moment…I like singing in that space and I love to hear Alex (Burkoy) fill some of the spaces with his strings. Our shows are intimate, and when I’m feeling safe and sound, I will tell a few stories and share some thoughts…and Alex might even tell a joke!”
TINPAN ORANGE ‘LOVE IS A DOG’ ALBUM TOUR
FRI 15 APR + SUN 17 APR – FAIRBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, FAIRBRIDGE WA
FRI 29 APR – THE GRAND POOBAH, HOBART TAS
SUN 1 MAY – FRESH ON CHARLES, LAUNCESTON TAS
SAT 07 MAY – TOFF IN TOWN, MELBOURNE VIC
SUN 8 MAY – RATTLERS HOTEL, WALLAN VIC
SAT 14 MAY – CIVIC HALL, MULLUMBIMBY NSW
SUN 15 MAY – OLD MUSEUM, BRISBANE QLD
FRI 20 MAY – THE VANGUARD, SYDNEY NSW
SAT 28 MAY – THE RAILWAY CLUB, DARWIN NT
SAT 4 JUNE – FLY BY NIGHT, FREMANTLE WA
SUN 5 JUNE – THE WHEATSHEAF, ADELAIDE SA