BLACK CAB Announce new album 明 (Akira)

Melbourne group Black Cab announced the release of 明 (Akira) out Friday 4 August, 2017 via Interstate40. To celebrate, they've shared two tracks from the album - 'Prelude' and 'Closing Titles.'

The album was inspired by classic Japanese sci-fi anime movies such as Akira, Ghost In the Shell, the Evangelion series and more. A blend of dark electronica, massed taiko drums and found sounds, the album is an alternative soundtrack to an anime sci-fi classic that is yet to be created.

Written and recorded by Black Cab, the album was mixed and mastered by Simon Polinski. For the artwork, the band commissioned UK anime illustrator Mike Anderson to create some fictional anime cells for the front and back covers, with Luke Fraser completing overall album design.

Black Cab will tour the album playing select launches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney this August. Both Melbourne and Brisbane shows will feature live Taikos. Full ticket links, guests and tour details below.

BLACK CAB 明 ALBUM LAUNCH

FRIDAY 4 AUGUST
Brisbane – GOMA Up Late QAGOMA
With special guests TOKO-TON taiko
Part of QAGOMA’s ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ exhibition
Buy tickets (includes gallery access)
Facebook event

FRIDAY 18 AUGUST
Melbourne – Howler
with special guests Toshi Sakamoto, Simona
Buy tickets
Facebook event

SATURDAY 26 AUGUST
Sydney - Oxford Arts Factory / LTR ON
Buy tickets
Facebook event

Black Cab - 明 is out Friday 4 August via Interstate40

Melbourne band Black Cab is singer and programmer Andrew Coates, guitarist James Lee and drummer Wes Holland. Black Cab's sound is a blend of rock and electronics with shades of Europe and America in the '70's. Black Cab's debut album, Altamont Diary was released in Australia in late 2004, in the UK in Sept. 2005 and across Europe via Stickman Records in March 2006. Altamont Diary received rave reviews around the world for it's weird take on the fateful free concert at Altamont Speedway in late 1969. Black Cab's second album, Jesus East, was released in Australia in September 2006 and was nominated in the top 25 Australian albums for the 2006 Australian Music Prize. The band toured Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium in May 2007 to support the European release of Jesus East through Stickman Records. Black Cab's third album, Call Signs was released in Australia in July 2009 through Sydney label Laughing Outlaw. Call Signs features a strong return to keyboards and found sounds loosely inspired by 1970's East Germany; surveillance, fear, anxiety and the ever present state security apparatus. In February 2010 'Call Signs' was shortlisted for the 2009 Australian Music Prize. Black Cab released a double album, Games of the XXI Olympiad in late 2014 followed by the single Uniforms in 2016 and an EP, Empire States in 2017.

Dark electronica meets massed taiko drums in this manga/anime inspired alternative soundtrack album. Physical and digital release, July 2017. Footage courtesy of WatchMojo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GGM7gCSnyQ). http://www.interstate40music.com