Listen To Julian Temple Band's New Album 'Tunnels'

Ōtepoti’s Julian Temple Band collective have unveiled their seventh studio album Tunnels, polished to perfection at North Otago’s valleyside Sublime Studio. Recent singles ‘No Evil’ and ‘Tunnels’ became the most streamed tracks in their long career, with this latest record raising the vulnerably gruff storytelling of the band’s namesake further with skilful instrumentation.

Title track ‘Tunnels’ is a momentously personal song for Temple, where he struggles to connect with his mother in her dementia. The tune is carefully angled by lyrical imagery visualising things out of reach and by Alex Vaatstra’s gut wrenching strings. 2023 NZ Hall Of Fame Inductee Don McGlashan gifts his tenor horn touch on ‘Guilt’, alleviating the tension of the verse with a repetitive chorus and the warm union of the band. ‘Head In The Clouds’ hits hard with the uncomfortable truth that “love’s not looking for you”. Ironic timbre is created by Andy Straight’s trickling guitar, Logan Hampton’s unwavering synth, and Paul McLennan-Kissel's gentle percussion. Things don't get too quiet with the standout 'Library' or thrasher 'Hide Away', whose guitars soar in its finale.

The southern luminaries will settle back into their well broken-in touring van as they bring their expert fourteen-date Tunnels Vinyl Release Tour to Aotearoa. Their first gig begins tonight in Kimberlie’s Silverstream Hotel (Fairlie), before zigzagging across the motu until they reach Tāmaki Makaurau’s Wine Cellar…

“This is by far the hardest we’ve ever worked on any album - so it doesn’t come lightly when we say that we are absolutely over the moon to finally be releasing it to the world. It has been an extremely long road to get to this point, with many ups and many downs, and we can’t wait to share the songs with our audience, old and new, through the airwaves and back out on the road live!”

Julian Temple Band Tunnels Vinyl Release Tour

Friday 22nd September - Silverstream Hotel, Kimbell
Saturday 23rd September - Darkroom, Christchurch*
Friday 29th September - Swan Room, Invercargill*
Saturday 30th September - New Athenaeum Theatre, Dunedin (two shows)*
Thursday 5th October - Millerton Hall, West Coast*
Friday 6th October - Lyric Theatre, West Coast*
Saturday 7th October - Mussel Inn, Onekaka
Friday 13th October - Redcliff Cafe, Te Anau
Saturday 14th October - Sherwood, Queenstown*
Friday 27th October - Moon, Wellington*
Saturday 28th October - Wine Cellar, Auckland*

*Tickets available HERE via UTR
 

Discover the earlier live performances of ‘Guilt’ and ‘Tunnels’ played at their favourite Sublime Studio…

'Tunnels' is out digitally on major streaming platforms and on vinyl LP pressed by Holiday Records — orders available HERE.