Denholm Harding, the producer of Let the Night In, describes it as “the most stylistically diverse record Prime Circle have done to date”.
With the recognisable Prime Circle sound still firmly in place, Let the Night In ventures into progressive new territory – such as the hip-hop inflections evident on Gone, the first radio single from the album.
Fans will also be intrigued to hear influences of electronica and other genres melding with the distinctive Prime Circle contemporary rock sensibility.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ross Learmonth says the band had “a lot of fun” in crafting the album and “adding the colours, contrasts and layers … it was all about what’s best for the music”.
“The last album was influenced by our experiences touring Germany, and was heavier,” he says. “This time around, it’s more about what we can do as a band – satisfying a need we had to make the type of music we love listening to. From Bush and Soundgarden to Placebo and Radiohead, we listened to them again – and were inspired by them rather than influenced by them.”
Thinking back to these albums that formed the soundtrack to their own lives, the five band members resolved to make a record of substance that wasn’t over-produced “candyfloss” but instead left enough to the listener’s emotions and imagination.
Harding – who, as the bass player with Just Jinjer, knows the pressures that come with being in a band with longevity – says that after 13 years of being at the forefront of the local music scene, “music has changed and so have Prime Circle”.
Sidesteppingtrying to sound “current” at the expense of their artistic integrity, the brand wanted to leave something behind of quality – which they believe they have accomplished on Let the Night In. It’s still Prime Circle, but pushes more boundaries and is infused with a fresh, progressive sensibility.
“Ross has risen to the challenge in terms of the calibre of songwriting and musicianship on this album, and everyone in the band was 100% committed and just synchs,” Harding believes.
Let the Night In is the product of several months of solid work at the SABC studios in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, with the album subsequently mixed in Texas, mastered in New York and engineered in South Africa.
Among the vintage SABC recording equipment used was an “old-school” Neveanalogue mixingconsole similar to the one depicted in the Dave Grohl-directed documentary Sound City – bringing a rich, authentic and textured sound to the music.
“This album is about Prime Circle giving back to music, as fans of music themselves,” Harding believes. “It’s a record made with artistic integrity that has musical muscle, and proves that music doesn’t have to sound heavy to have weight.”
Adds Learmonth: “We’re extremely happy with the progression of our sound. Because it hasn’t been too quick, it makes it more real – and something that we cherish.”
Prime Circle will soon be heading to Europe for an extensive 30-date European tour to promote Let the Night In, with the first leg kicking off at the end of June and the second leg in October. The band will also be launching the album with a local tour of the major centres in July and August, further details of which will be announced soon.
Prime Circle will be performing in eMalahleni on Friday, September 5 at The Ridge; tickets are available from Computicket.
Prime Circle are: Ross Learmonth (guitar and vocals); Marco Gomes (bass); Dale Schnettler (drums); Neil Breytenbach (keyboards) and Dirk Bisschoff (guitar)
Let the Night In: Track listing
1 . Let the Night In
2 . Gone
3 . My City
4 . Doors
5 . Before the Fire Burns Out
6 . The Fallout
7 . Yeah
8 . Bastards
9 . On Top of the World
10. Blame it on Me
11. Not Alone
12. I Am
13. Batten Down the Hatches
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The band talk about the making of Let The Night In.
During this time Prime Circle in partnership with WITBANK NEWS will be running a competition.
Winning is easy every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from today Wednesday August 13 until Wednesday, September 3 we will be asking a specific question. All you have to do is keep your eye on our entertainment section on our website and answer the question correctly.
