Friendly Fires drops new single ‘Magnetic’ and album ‘Dig Deeper’
Friendly Fires Dig Deeper: A Journey into Magnetic Euphoria
After a period of anticipation, the celebrated band Friendly Fires has unveiled their long-awaited fourth album, Dig Deeper. This 11-track project, packed with soaring melodies and hypnotic dance grooves, is set to arrive on January 15th via LAB Records, following the success of their previous work.
The new single, Magnetic, has already begun to capture the zeitgeist, immediately throwing listeners into the album’s core theme: the irresistible force of attraction and the difficult art of letting go. Frontman Ed Macfarlane captures this tension perfectly, reflecting on the complexity of desire in his songwriting.
“Attraction is a force so strong it can be beyond our control. What we want and what we should do aren’t always the same,” the band explained, delving into the emotional landscape of the record. In the glistening chorus of the single, Macfarlane articulates the struggle: “Take it off/ It’s all I’m wanting, but I have to say no/ Take it off/ When we’re magnetic, it’s so hard to let go.”
The creative journey behind Dig Deeper was marked by introspection. Macfarlane shared that the record followed an uncertain period for the duo, filled with unformed ideas and songs that didn’t quite feel right. This led to a profound commitment to honesty, with the band stating that releasing the work felt like a huge leap of faith.
The music is a vibrant tapestry woven from diverse influences. Friendly Fires drew inspiration from the atmospheric textures of Talking Heads, alongside the sprawling, rhythmic sounds of New Order, the baggy sounds of the late-’80s, and the exhilarating energy of mid-2000s ‘nu-rave’. This lineage allowed them to look through their musical history and see themselves fully embedded within it.
Beyond the personal narratives, the album is a celebration of their creative lineage. The band explored their vast vault of song ideas, revisiting and rediscovering the essence of what makes Friendly Fires unique, resulting in a sound that is both bombastic and deeply soulful. As one member noted, the process was a “labour of love and rediscovery,” bringing back the joy of writing from the heart.
The tracklist for Dig Deeper promises a dynamic experience, featuring titles such as Lose All Your Friends, Gold Dust, Orbital, and the titular Dig Deeper, alongside gems like Magnetic and Catherine Wheel.
The album is poised to be a sonic explosion, noted by press releases as containing “major, sweeping choruses, serene falsetto, supercharged euphoria underpinned by hypnotic dance grooves and cowbell workouts that are poised to whisk you away to more exotic climes.”
Friendly Fires is currently bringing this fresh energy to audiences worldwide. Fans can catch an intimate gig at London’s Moth Club next Thursday (September 24th). European dates are also confirmed for January, taking place in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris. Further headline dates for 2026/27 include shows in London and Berlin, marking an exciting expansion of their journey.
The full tracklist for Dig Deeper is:
1. Lose All Your Friends
2. Leap Of Faith
3. Gold Dust
4. Magnetic
5. Dig Deeper
6. Orbital
7. Silver Lining
8. Cuban Heels
9. SYOTOS
10. Catherine Wheel
11. Wear It Out
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