GUV shares new single ‘Blue Jade’ ahead of upcoming album ‘Warmer Than Gold’

Toronto- and London-based musical chameleon Ben Cook, aka GUV, is back with a new chapter. His latest album, ‘Warmer Than Gold,’ is out now via Run For Cover Records, and he’s sharing a fresh taste: the punchy, shoegaze-tinged single Blue Jade.

Following early singles like the danceable Warmer Than Gold and jangly C86-inspired Chasin’ Luv, Blue Jade smears Cook’s instantly hummable melodies with layers of dreamy, old-school shoegaze. Speaking on the track, Cook explains:

“We were thinking about the last few years of the shoegaze wave alongside classic records by MBV and Chapterhouse, but with the aim of pushing it somewhere punk and more driving. The idea was to make it like a Blitz or Oi! record, buried under a wall of guitars and texture. Most of the vocal melodies came together while the guitars were being tracked. I recorded the vocals quickly in my uncle’s apartment in London so I wouldn’t disturb the neighbours.”b

Pre-order ‘Warmer Than Gold’ here
Stream Blue Jade here | YouTube video below

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The Sound of ’Warmer Than Gold’

‘Warmer Than Gold’ finds Cook evolving his hooky guitar pop in exciting new directions. Alongside contributions from collaborators like James Matthew Seven, Darcy Baylis, Hatchie, and Meg Mills of Turnstile, the album fuses Britpop, baggy, classic indie pop, and first-wave shoegaze—all filtered through Cook’s singular lens.

It’s a record that feels like a journey through his musical life: growing up between Toronto and England, carving a path through hardcore with No Warning, experimenting with punk with Fucked Up, and building a rich solo catalog first as Young Governor, then Young Guv, and now simply, GUV. As Cook puts it:

“I’m not so young anymore, three-letter band names are cool, and I’m tired of being mistaken for a rapper.”

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’Warmer Than Gold’ track list

1. Let Your Hands Go
2. Blue Jade
3. Warmer Than Gold
4. Thorns In My Heart
5. Out of This Place
6. Chasin Luv
7. Seaside Story
8. Oscillating
9. Hello Miss Blue
10. Never Should Have Said
11. Crash Down Feeling
12. September Grey

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A Life in Motion

‘Warmer Than Gold’ is an album about movement—through cities, cultures, and time itself. Cook’s lyrics capture life between two worlds: one obsessed with luxury and status, the other a dreamlike escape. “It’s about buses, trains, planes, big dreams in solitude, finding something real despite everything trying to erase it,” he says.

The album was recorded across continents—London, Los Angeles, Portugal—and brings together a spontaneous, one-take energy that contrasts with Cook’s typically meticulous approach. The result is a collection of songs that feel alive, communal, and utterly cohesive.

Standout tracks like the stadium-sized rave-rock opener Let Your Hands Go, the shimmering Never Should Have Said (a duet with Hatchie), and Chasin’ Luv showcase Cook’s signature hook-filled melodies, now layered with fresh breakbeats and sonic textures inspired by everything from Madchester and Britpop to the Beastie Boys and Primal Scream.

“I’ve been searching for ways to bring the fleeting into focus, to make the invisible parts of myself real, hoping they might connect with something greater. ‘Warmer Than Gold’ is another step in that journey of rediscovery,” Cook reflects.

With ‘Warmer Than Gold,’ GUV proves he’s still a master at blending nostalgia and experimentation, delivering an album that’s equal parts celebratory, reflective, and propulsive. If you’re ready for hooky guitar pop with shoegaze shine, this is your soundtrack for winter.

Follow GUV Online:
Instagram | Run For Cover Records

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