More about: The 1975

The 1975 are back and in signature fashion the band announced the title and tracklist of their new album ‘Being Funny In a Foreign Language’ by restarting their social media accounts and sending a handful of lucky fans a postcard that contained the information. 

The new colour scheme seems to be royal Blue along with black and white which could suggest that the band may be revisiting their earlier sound in a small way as opposed to something as vibrant and upbeat as ‘I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’. With a few visual teases and a tracklist to work from, here's our prediction of what we think The 1975’s fifth studio album might sound like. 

'The 1975'

Fans of The 1975 will be aware of this album opener that changes direction sonically in line with each albums overall theme while keeping the same iconic lyrics. It's either gonna be a grand cinematic pop opener or a slow acoustic setup, either way I would be surprised if anything on this album sounded like ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, particularly because of the black and white aesthetic they're currently making use of. 

'Happiness'

On the one hand, this could be a joyous carefree pop anthem that sees Matty head back to hot tubs and cardboard cutouts like Love Me. On the other hand though, a stripped back, vulnerable and emotive track that's about losing happiness, incorporating soft piano and much slower melodies.  

'Looking For Somebody (To Love)'

A gospel choir you say? Huge harmonies and  smooth basslines with a pop ridden undertone. Think ‘If I Believe You’ with an explosion of energy utilizing groove ridden guitar segments with softer 80s pop segments. Although given how much shorter the track listing is for this record, it could also be one of the only synth heavy, technological interludes on the album. 

'Part Of The Band'

As the first single set to drop from the album, I feel like this may end up on the acoustic route adding a calmer atmosphere to the record. Perhaps something that still has a chilled but excitable tempo but that focuses way more on the lyrical content rather than some major musical extravaganza going on behind. Teasing us with a short clip of moody violins, I think we could have an angsy orchestral climax paired with a slow guitar. Something sad and lowkey but still poignant and expressive. 

'Oh Caroline'

Oh Caroline could definitely be a shorter (1:30-2:00 min) track that takes another instrumental approach, maybe even using a voice note style clipping to add language other than English to the record, in keeping with the album's title. Sonically there's a chance of a more electronic exploration with bold synthesizers and little to no guitar that is slightly out of character from the rest of the tracks. 

'I’m In Love With You'

Anyone for a rock ballad? Emotional and introspective but dominant with a certain level of confusion. I'm thinking of the earlier sounds of The 1975, a similar lyrical theme to that of Robbers alongside crashing rock guitars and heavy rolling drums creating a euphoric moment on an otherwise acoustic outing for the band.  

'All I Need To Hear'

Again, another acoustic track that will see the bad in a self inflicted emotional state. ‘All I Need To Hear’ certainly sounds like a breakup song so the track could be another stripped back and fairly isolated track where emotions pour over the minimal sounds of guitar or a very slow, nearing 90s pop ballad. 

'Wintering'

Wintering could again be a calmer more vulnerable track that uses sparse twinkling beats creating an atmospheric Christmas like calming track. It could also go down a darker, gothic route with prominent bass and a more experimental melodic pattern that takes inspiration from the likes of Joy Division and The Smiths. 

'Human Too'

Given the title this could definitely be the ‘The Man Who Married A Robot’ moment of the new record, has anyone called up Siri to see if he's free? ‘Human Too’ is really giving off that computer, electronic vibe and it could definitely be a heartfelt metaphor with an artificial intelligence vocal in the style of an interlude to break up the near end of the album. 

'About You'

I honestly can't quite tell which way this could go but I'm definitely thinking of a ballad, slotting in with what I predict will be a spiritual and honest state of affairs. I'm hearing a leisurely but uptempo sound that builds up to the album's end with a super fun drum sequence and a super jangly melody that fills the record with festival vibes and maybe even a smile or two. 

'When We Were Together '

This may definitely be the big overly expressive affair that brings ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ to its end. Given the title this could definitely be a look back on a relationship pouring out gospel vocals, crashing guitars and intricate melodies that build to a crescendo of unbridled satisfaction with moments of calm tying in all the running themes into one track.

Being Funny In A Foreign Language is coming soon, with 'Part Of The Band' dropping 7 July.

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More about: The 1975