After first surprising fans last month with the release of “Intrusive Thoughts” — their first new music since 2019 — post/punk/electro band Bear Hands have announced that their new album, The Key to What, will be released on October 18th via Rosttrum Records/Cantora Records.
Back in 2019, the future of Bear Hands was a little up in there as singer/songwriter Dylan Rau attempted to take a step back from music, instead spending his time “chopping some wood and learning how to use power tools.” But, of course, as it turns out Rau realized he was just a bit better at writing songs. The ensuing years found the band shaping new songs remotely as members lived on opposite coasts.
Ultimately, Bear Hands found themselves back together in Cherry Hill, New Jersey with producer and touring guitarist Alex M before the finishing touches were put on by co-producers Elliott Kozel (Yves Tumor, SZA, Lizzo) and Caleb Wright (Samia, Charly Bliss).
Alongside the announcement of The Key to What, today Bear Hands have shared the anthemic new single, “Floor It.” “‘Floor It’ is the oldest song on our new record and almost appeared on our last record ‘Fake Tunes’ but we didn’t finish it in time. Now it’s done and we like it so much we made it the first track on ‘The Key to What,'” Bear Hands explain.
“The hook is about taking road trips with our cat Billy. He would climb all over the interior and wedge himself in the weirdest places like under the brake pedal (not recommended). It’s one of two road songs on our new record so roll down the windows and turn it up real loud,” they continue. “The video, lovingly handcrafted by noted auteur Orson Oblowitz, was shot on a grey morning in Los Angeles and plays on themes of isolation, drowning in paradise, and the impossibility of escape. It was really really cold shooting the beach stuff and I was cursing my past self for coming up with such a stupid idea. You can see me shivering in the video but after watching it back we felt like it worked.”
Watch the accompanying music video for “Floor It” below, as well last he album artwork and track-listing.
Artwork:
Track-listing:
- Floor It
- Intrusive Thoughts
- Mosquito Song
- Dialtone
- Adderall / Ambien
- Hung Up On Me
- Flying Scimitar
- Car Wreck (Feat. Have a Nice Life)
- Scam Likely
- Moonwalking on Eggshells
Tour dates:
10/27 – New Park – West Hartford, CT
10/29 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
10/30 – Union Stage – Washington, DC
11/1 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
11/2 – Middle East – Cambridge, MA
11/4 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
11/5 – Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, MI
11/6 – Outset – Chicago, IL
11/7 – Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN
11/9 – Meow Wolf – Denver, CO
11/11 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
11/12 – Teragram – Los Angeles, CA
11/13 – Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA
11/15 – Alladin Theatre – Portland, OR
11/16 – Neumos – Seattle, WA
