“Cold House” is the new single from London-based four piece Talk Show, and arrives with the announcement of the group’s second EP Touch the Ground, set for release on September 23 by Missing Piece Records. Produced by Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Al Doyle (LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip) in their Hackney studio, the six-track collection is the sound of a band who have stopped, re-evaluated, and emerged as one of the most exciting and unique prospects around. Pre-save the EP HERE

Raucous, visceral, and with an irresistible, dance heavy beat inspired by The Rapture’s “House of Jealous Lovers,” “Cold House” and its accompanying video provide a perfect taste of what is to come from the EP; equal parts industrial and dance floor ready, with a relentless energy that’s impossible to resist. Speaking about “Cold House,” frontman Harrison Swann says:

“I wanted to write something big but less dark and focussed on those noughties bands coming out of New York. They were absolutely having it. Honestly I can’t wait to play this to a crowd.”

After two years of stop-start frustration thanks to Coronavirus (the first lockdown began the same week they released their debut EP, These People, in 2020), the wild audience response was a euphoric lift for the band. “It was hard to keep motivation up and keep morale high” Harrison reflects, “it was fucking tough.” Yet canceled gigs led to more time for Talk Show to get into the studio, to become ever more focussed, to develop what Harrison describes as their “obsession” with getting it right. “That’s the only thing that could get us through”.

The band see Touch The Ground as a celebration of their decisions to be bold: “We thought if we scrap the old stuff, the new stuff better be fucking good otherwise we’re fucked,” Harrison says. ”On the final day I remember walking out and thinking that was the most fun I’ve ever had, and we’ve absolutely made the right decision and this is the direction we’re going in. This is it now, this is where the train is heading and we’re not stopping.” Now the plan is to continue where they left off from the Hot Chip sessions, pushing for harder, louder, more industrial and dance floor-focussed music. “That’s why it’s called Touch The Ground. I wanted it to be like when a sprinter is crouching and ready to start a race,” Harrison says, “it’s the start of something – rooted, but looking upwards”

Photo Courtesy: Stewart Baxter