After their lauded 2017 album Atone, White Moth Black Butterfly return with their new studio album The Cost Of Dreaming through Kscope on 28th May 2021.
Thecontemporary pop project with progressive and experimental music at its heart; created by Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) features a team of songwriters & producers based worldwide, all at the height of their own scenes. Collaborating with Tompkins are New-Delhi based Skyharbor songwriter and producer Keshav Dhar; US based producer and string arranger Randy Slaugh who has previously worked with the likes of Devin Townsend, Architects & Periphery, drummer Mac Christensen and the line up is completed by ethereal vocals of UK singer & lyricist Jordan Turner. Their newest output not only signals a sonic evolution for the band, whilst still retaining core elements from previous recordings such as organic string sections and experimental theme linking interludes, but also features some exceptional special guests including saxophonist Kenny Fong and The Contortionist’s keyboardist Eric Guenther.
Daniel Tompkins explains why he sees White Moth Black Butterfly and The Cost Of Dreaming representing the dichotomy between peace and conflict within a life full of chaos. “Our new album ‘The Cost of Dreaming’ is something we feel just about every human being on the planet that’s been affected by life changing disruption will relate strongly to. Our nature is to always be planning, dreaming about an ideal future in which we will have ticked various boxes that define our ideal lives, often at the cost of the present. And when control over that future is seized away from us and all we are left with is the present, we realise just how much we took for granted. Life is surely a gift to us all throughout which we experience moments of soaring bliss and happiness, and then in a heartbeat sink into states of great trouble and suffering. Often our struggles can serve as momentous opportunities for growth, but the balance of life can often hold us back from seizing the day. We believe that this album is our greatest achievement – it’s an outpouring of love and a cry for help.”
There are strong themes throughout the album that will resonate with many people, from addressing the issue of ongoing domestic abuse crisis in “Use You” and offering a way to sign post people toward support agencies; to the unexpected psychological upheavals brought about by events beyond our control in “Darker Days”.
Self produced, engineered and recorded over three continents in various studios throughout the last year, The Cost Of Dreaming was written remotely. This album signals a sonic evolution in the bands’ output while still retaining core elements from previous recordings such as organic string sections and experimental theme linking interludes.
Fans will be able to discover a series of easter eggs within the album, providing a link between this and TesseracT’s live portals experience, demonstrating the interconnected relationships throughout the artists’ various projects.
Featuring artwork from the award winning Ani Artworks and for the first time procuring the vocal mixing services of an external producer in Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Skyharbor), The Cost Of Dreaming finds the band in a highly creative mood.
The Cost Of Dreaming tracklist
1. Ether [02:42]
2. Prayer For Rain [03:21]
3. The Dreamer [03:06]
4. Heavy Heart [03:14]
5. Portals [03:30]
6. Use You [02:48]
7. Darker Days (feat. Kenny Fong) [02:57]
8. Sands Of Despair [02:33]
9. Under The Stars[02:53]
10. Soma[03:29]
11. Liberate [03:30]
12. Unholy [02:53]
13. Bloom (feat. Eric Guenther) [04:10]
14. Spirits [04:46]
The Cost Of Dreaming is released on 28th May on CD, black 180g vinyl LP and digitally with pre-orders available now HERE (https://wmbb.lnk.to/TheCostOfDreaming)