Animal Kingdom releases new album and to tour

Animal Kingdom is excited to announce the physical release of its sophomore album, The Looking Away, this week. Released by Boombox/Mom+Pop, The Looking Away is the North London trio's lush and atmospheric new album produced by David Kosten (Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything). The new effort follows the band's well-received debut album, Signs and Wonders, a body of work that led NME to describe it as "achingly beautiful celestial indie" as well as stating the band "will have Sigur Ros quivering with envy." The Looking Away is now available in stores and online.

In addition to the physical release of the album, the band recently announced its Summer North American headline tour as well as their confirmed appearances at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL, on Friday, August 3 and the Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, CA, on Saturday, August 11. The 18-date club headlining tour will be visiting large markets including New York City on Wednesday, July 25, Boston, MA, on Thursday, July 26 and Los Angeles, CA, on Tuesday, August 14. The band's debut American run will extend through the end of August, culminating in a performance at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR, on Sunday, August 26.

Animal Kingdom is Richard Sauberlich (Vocals/Guitar/Piano), Hamish Crombie (Bass) and Geoff Lea (Drums). The band's 2009 debut album, Signs and Wonders, was recorded in Seattle with acclaimed producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes,The Shins), and as a result introduced people to the band's unique world-view. The first single was the haunting "Chalk Stars," a song that xfm's John Kennedy made his "Record of the Year" and was described by Zane Lowe as a "stunning piece of music." The second single, "Tin Man," was an iTunes "Single of the Week" and iTunes U.S. named the band "Best New Alternative Act."

The songs on The Looking Away veer from the glinting propulsion of flagship single "Strange Attractor," the band's first single to chart at Modern Rock radio, to the pensive hush of "Straw Man," a self-described "beautifully depressing song." This juxtaposition of styles and tempos finds cohesion both in the group's ability to craft infectious, soaring indie rock numbers and in the lyrical meaning that infuses the entire disc. From the title to the album's striking artwork to the lyrics, The Looking Away circles around the idea of purposeful disassociation, of how much easier it is to tune out than to tune in. And, if you listen closely, the album's title can be found throughout several of its songs.

With the release of The Looking Away, Animal Kingdom is looking to build upon the foundation Signs and Wonders laid for them in the U.S. As shimmering as its predecessor, the new album is poised to bring additional attention to the band as well as their live show which is rarely seen in the U.S., a presence The Fly Magazine in the UK has described as "a resounding and cinematically cosmic experience."

Animal Kingdom will be making the following North American appearances throughout July and August. Tour dates below.


JULY
24 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
25 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
26 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
30 - Albany, NY - Jillian's
31 - Columbus, OH - The Basement

AUGUST
03 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
04 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
05 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
07 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
08 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
11 - San Francisco, CA - Outsidelands Music and Arts Festival
12 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
14 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
17 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Room
20 - Fresno, CA - Fulton 55
22 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow's Night Club
23 - San Francisco, CA - Popscene
26 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge