Leeds post-punk quintet Autobahn release their new album The Moral Crossing next week ahead of a gig at Manchester’s The White Hotel.
The band gave their first insight into the new long player, revealing the title track back in August. The album is due for release on 3 November.
Autobahn picked up considerable attention through their debut album Dissemble, but have refreshed their approach in the recording of the new material. Autobahn’s second has seen lead singer and principal songwriter Craig Johnson, guitarists Michael Pedel and Gavin Cobb, bassist Daniel Sleight and drummer Liam Hilton deciding to giving up their practice room that doubled as a hardcore/punk venue (which influenced their original sound, as did a love of The Birthday Party) and build their own studio space – on their own terms, all on their own.
They found a former double-glazing firm, under a disused bridge, in Holbeck, and despite having no experience of such a job, they undertook this feat. It took a year from ripping out the existing contents to finishing the album – which was then mixed in New York by Ben Greenberg, known for his work with the Sacred Bones label.
On top, Johnson taught himself how to make a record after the studio was built. “I was down there nearly every night,” Johnson recalls. “It was pretty horrible at times, but worth the pain to have control over everything. We’ve had the chance to create the sound we want, at times it’s more melancholic, and romantic.”
Speaking of the musical development of the 10-track album, Autobahn’s Craig Johnson commented, “The first album hinted at emotion and feeling, but this record encapsulates that from the offset. The melancholic aspect of our music is often offset by an aggressive dissonance, but to me there’s also a romantic side to what we do, which isn’t always clear because of the 100mph drive of the band. That’s what we are exploring with this new album.”
Where and when do Autobahn play in Manchester?
Autobahn perform at Manchester’s the White Hotel on 25 November.
