{"id":42524,"date":"2025-05-17T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T16:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42524"},"modified":"2025-05-17T06:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T10:22:07","slug":"home-counties-return-with-spain-a-sonic-identity-crisis-youll-want-to-dance-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42524","title":{"rendered":"Home Counties return with &#8216;Spain&#8217;: A sonic identity crisis you\u2019ll want to dance through"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>London\u2019s most delightfully unpredictable indie-dance agitators,\u00a0<strong>Home Counties<\/strong>, are back\u2014and they didn\u2019t come quietly. Their new single\u00a0<em>Spain<\/em> just dropped, and it\u2019s a slick, shadowy pivot from the eccentric bounce of their 2024 debut\u00a0\u2018Exactly As It Seems\u2019. Produced by\u00a0<strong>Al Doyle<\/strong>\u00a0(yes, that Al Doyle from Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem), this track is your first look into what feels like a new era for the band\u2014leaner, darker, and way more existential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check out the video for\u00a0<em>Spain<\/em> below, and stream the track on all the usual spots\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/subc.at\/Spain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/W7aw0hL7hJ4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s\u00a0<em>Spain<\/em> all about?<\/strong><br>It\u2019s basically an argument with yourself\u2014soundtracked by glowering synths and the internal scream of &#8220;<em>how did I become that guy?<\/em>&#8221; Frontman Will Harrison puts it best: the song is \u201c<em>about growing older and fearing the person you might become, or are already becoming.<\/em>\u201d Picture a younger, idealistic you throwing philosophical punches at your sunburnt, morally-compromised older self sipping sangria in expat exile. Sounds bleak? Maybe. But in classic Home Counties fashion, it&#8217;s also kind of a bop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The band use the metaphor of a disillusioned Brit abroad\u2014burnt out, checked out, and sliding into the kind of life they used to hate\u2014to explore those creeping compromises we all make with age. But don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s not all doom and gloom. There\u2019s a twisted optimism in there too: maybe, just maybe, giving in to moral decline isn\u2019t the worst thing after all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Counties Are Hitting the Road<\/strong><br>Alongside the release, the band have announced a full-blown UK headline tour for this November and December, capping things off with a big night at Scala in London. If you\u2019ve ever caught them live, you know it\u2019s part rave, part reckoning\u2014expect high-energy chaos, synths flying, and the kind of danceable dread only they can deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Upcoming Festival Dates:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>May 17 \u2013 Great Escape, Brighton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 25 \u2013 Bearded Theory, Derbyshire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 30 \u2013 Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>July 27 \u2013 Truck Festival, Oxford<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>August 3 \u2013 Y Not Festival, Pikehall<br>&#8230;and more through the year. Full tour details below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s Talk About That Debut Album&#8230;<\/strong><br>If\u00a0\u2018Exactly As It Seems\u2019\u00a0slipped past you\u2014fix that. Critics were all over it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>A beautifully peculiar, joy-inducing triumph<\/em>\u201d \u2013 The Skinny<br>\u201c<em>A feast of dancefloor-imbued bangers&#8230; a joyous, grin-inducing call to arms<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Dork<br>\u201c<em>Home Counties have firmly asserted themselves as some of today\u2019s brightest musical minds<\/em>\u201d \u2013 The Line of Best Fit<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the record smashed expectations with its jittery synths, clever social commentary, and enough dancefloor DNA to keep the indie clubs spinning for weeks. Think Talking Heads by way of Confidence Man with a dash of post-Brexit disillusionment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who Are Home Counties Anyway?<\/strong><br>If you\u2019re new here, the lineup is:<br>Will Harrison (vocals\/guitar\/keys), Lois Kelly (vocals\/keys), Conor Kearney (guitar\/vocals), Dan Hearn (drums), Barn Peiser Pepin (synth\/percussion\/guitar\/vocals), and Bill Griffin (bass\/vocals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019ve shared stages with everyone from Shame to Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and even scored a spot on the EA Sports FC 24 soundtrack. Not bad for a band that sounds like they\u2019re throwing a nervous breakdown and a house party at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Radio Legends &amp; Press Darlings<\/strong><br>Elton John is a fan. Steve Lamacq\u2019s been spinning their stuff. Press from The Telegraph to So Young have sung their praises, calling them everything from \u201ca post-punk mirror maze\u201d to \u201ca band ready to redefine modern indie music.\u201d No pressure or anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home Counties \u2013 UK Tour 2025<\/strong><br>November \u2013 December<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nov 22 \u2013 Rough Trade, Bristol<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 23 \u2013 Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 24 \u2013 Green Door Store, Brighton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 27 \u2013 Bodega, Nottingham<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 28 \u2013 Flying Duck, Glasgow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 29 \u2013 Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nov 30 \u2013 YES Pink Room, Manchester<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dec 1 \u2013 Hallamshire Hotel, Sheffield<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dec 2 \u2013 Scala, London<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>More dates and info over on their socials:<br>Instagram: @homecountiesband<br>Facebook: \/homecountiesmusic<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>New track\u00a0<em>Spain<\/em> is out now on Submarine Cat Records. It\u2019s moody, it\u2019s philosophical, it\u2019s totally danceable\u2014and it might just be the beginning of Home Counties\u2019 most exciting chapter yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get burnt. Get existential. Get tickets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>London\u2019s most delightfully unpredictable indie-dance agitators,\u00a0Home Counties, are back\u2014and they didn\u2019t come quietly. Their new single\u00a0Spain just dropped, and it\u2019s a slick, shadowy pivot from <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42524\" title=\"Home Counties return with &#8216;Spain&#8217;: A sonic identity crisis you\u2019ll want to dance through\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[22,23,25,28,29,30,1907],"tags":[6034,12623,1245],"class_list":["post-42524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-music-video","category-new-release","category-news","tag-home-counties","tag-spain","tag-tour-dates"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4564.jpeg?fit=1119%2C1117&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-b3S","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43418,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=43418","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":0},"title":"Home Counties announce second album \u2018Humdrum\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"July 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Out October 24 via Submarine Cat Records London six-piece\u00a0Home Counties\u00a0are back with a bang. They\u2019ve just announced their second full-length album,\u00a0\u2018Humdrum,\u2019 due out October 24th via Submarine Cat Records, and it\u2019s shaping up to be anything but dull. The title track is out now \u2013 a wonky, synth-fueled anthem for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Home Counties press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5161.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5161.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5161.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5161.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5161.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34919,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=34919","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":1},"title":"Home Counties share \u2018That&#8217;s Where The Money&#8217;s Gone\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"September 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Bristol based five piece Home Counties\u00a0have shared their new single That's Where The Money's Gone, lifted from the band's\u00a0debut EP 'Redevelopment', which is out now\u00a0via\u00a0Alcopop! Records. The 'Redevelopment' EP\u00a0features the\u00a0previously released 'wonk-pop doozy'\u00a0Dad Bod and the band's acclaimed debut single (and EP title track) Redevelopment.\u00a0Firmly establishing themselves as one of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Home Counties press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3A64042F-7185-4F3B-8F16-3960B49B0E79.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3A64042F-7185-4F3B-8F16-3960B49B0E79.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3A64042F-7185-4F3B-8F16-3960B49B0E79.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3A64042F-7185-4F3B-8F16-3960B49B0E79.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3A64042F-7185-4F3B-8F16-3960B49B0E79.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35462,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=35462","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":2},"title":"Home Counties return with new single \u2018Modern Yuppies\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Home Counties\u00a0have released their new single Modern Yuppies, the first of two self-produced singles to be released via Alcopop! Records. The single follows the band\u2019s debut EP \u2018Redevelopment\u2019 which arrived in September 2020.Modern Yuppies sees the band move away from the indie guitar-laden sound of their debut EP, and instead\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Home Counties press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04EDD9C6-BD38-400B-9697-C04F1538485F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04EDD9C6-BD38-400B-9697-C04F1538485F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04EDD9C6-BD38-400B-9697-C04F1538485F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04EDD9C6-BD38-400B-9697-C04F1538485F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04EDD9C6-BD38-400B-9697-C04F1538485F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37736,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=37736","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":3},"title":"Home Counties release art-punk single \u2018Village Spirit\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"London based genre-hopping punks\u00a0Home Counties\u00a0have released their new single Village Spirit, the second track to be lifted from the band's\u00a0second EP\u00a0\u2018In A Middle English Town\u2019 out February\u00a011, 2022\u00a0via\u00a0Alcopop! Records. Firmly establishing themselves over the past 18 months as one of the UK's most vital new bands, Village Spirit captures the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Home Counties press release","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0111B36F-528F-42FC-8515-559C74C7A91B-e1643472110900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C723&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0111B36F-528F-42FC-8515-559C74C7A91B-e1643472110900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C723&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0111B36F-528F-42FC-8515-559C74C7A91B-e1643472110900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C723&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0111B36F-528F-42FC-8515-559C74C7A91B-e1643472110900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C723&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0111B36F-528F-42FC-8515-559C74C7A91B-e1643472110900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C723&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34574,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=34574","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":4},"title":"Bristol based Home Counties release new single \u2018Dad Bod\u2019 + announce signing to Alcopop! Records","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"July 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Home Counties have returned with their second single\u00a0Dad Bod, along with the announcement of their signing to UK label\u00a0Alcopop! Records. They will\u00a0release of their debut EP 'Redevelopment' on September\u00a04th. Following the release of the\u00a0band's acclaimed\u00a0debut single Redevelopment, this time Home Counties\u00a0turn\u00a0their attention to the \u2018progressive\u2019 metropolitan man and his relationship\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Home Counties press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0D9F19B2-8833-4846-B8C8-085DB7079050.png?fit=925%2C791&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0D9F19B2-8833-4846-B8C8-085DB7079050.png?fit=925%2C791&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0D9F19B2-8833-4846-B8C8-085DB7079050.png?fit=925%2C791&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0D9F19B2-8833-4846-B8C8-085DB7079050.png?fit=925%2C791&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24814,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=24814","url_meta":{"origin":42524,"position":5},"title":"Saint Etienne announce new album &#8216;Home Counties&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Saint Etienne have announced their new album 'Home Counties,' which will be out on June 2nd via Heavenly Recordings. Along with the album announcement, they've released a new track titled Heather. Take a listen via Soundcloud below. \u00a0 The Home Counties are an embarrassing place to come from. The name\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Saint Etienne","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/86f582ed-1963-4908-90b2-bbbbf2af180e.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/86f582ed-1963-4908-90b2-bbbbf2af180e.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/86f582ed-1963-4908-90b2-bbbbf2af180e.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/86f582ed-1963-4908-90b2-bbbbf2af180e.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42526,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42524\/revisions\/42526"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}