Trace Mountains, the project of Dave Benton, has announced his highly anticipated new album Into The Burning Blue, due out September 27th via Lame-O Records. Spanning seven minutes over a deep synth beat, lead single “In A Dream” repossesses mid-80s rock with a cinematic and frantic American perspective. It follows Benton through a frantic nighttime bike ride as he peers through the windows of a suburban capitalist America, as well as the windows of his own mind.

Written as Benton grappled with the end of an 8-year romantic relationship, songs were pouring out of him in quick succession, often urgently before he had logically processed the emotions himself. The pressure of this period crystallized Benton’s adventurous spirit and self-renewal as he embraced new high-fidelity sounds and conviction. Writing routinely over a Roland CR-68 drum machine and enamored with the dramatic precision of 80s music, Benton enlisted Craig Hendrix (Japanese Breakfast) to bring his indie rock to immersive new heights.

“From the start of the record-making process, Craig and I envisioned ‘In A Dream’ as the opening track,” shares Benton, “On an album that is largely auto-biographical and very personal in nature, it felt vital to begin in a place with a bit of worldview. Especially now, in an election year in the US, I think it’s meaningful to acknowledge the state-inflicted suffering and denial of life that happens here and all over the world. There are so many kinds of Dreams, some are nightmares, some are fantasies, some are very real hopes for one’s future. With “In A Dream” I wanted to explore the universal idea of Dreams – the ones that come at night and the day, what they mean, and who gets to have them.”

On the heels of the album announcement, Benton’s beloved cult band LVL UP will perform three reunion shows at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY on August 2nd, 3rd and 4th. All three nights are sold out. Announced today, Trace Mountains will embark on a US headline tour to support Into The Burning Blue, kicking off with an east coast run in October, and a west coast run in December. Tickets available HERE, on sale August 1st at 10am ET.

LVL UP TOUR DATES:

8/2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right – SOLD OUT

8/3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right – SOLD OUT

8/4 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right – SOLD OUT

TRACE MOUNTAIN TOUR DATES:

10/9 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong

10/10 – Wilmington, NC @ Reggie’s

10/11 – Durham, NC @ Rubie’s

10/12 – Boone, NC @ Lily’s Snack Bar

10/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Altar

10/16 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement

10/17 – Columbus, OH @ Space Bar

10/18 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR

10/19 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village

10/20 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar

10/22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

10/24 – Brooklyn, NY @ TV Eye

10/25 – Boston, MA @ Deep Cuts

12/3 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s

12/4 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

12/6 – Arcata, CA @ Miniplex

12/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers

12/11 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

12/12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer Lounge

Photo Courtesy: Alyx Soard