The self-titled debut album from Charles Hayward’s new band, Abstract Concrete out now via The state51 Conspiracy

Genres: Experimental, Alternative, Prog-rock, Post-rock, Jazz, Post-punk

"These are memorable songs with irresistible hooks, wonderfully heartfelt vocals expressing a deep empathy and humanity that nevertheless maintain a disarming sense of humour" The Quietus (Best Albums of October 2023)

★★★★ Mojo Magazine

★★★★ "an experimental pop album that is full of complex time signatures and curious instrumentation without ever being anything other than fun, highly listenable and very charming" Uncut Magazine

"form-stretching experimentation" Loud & Quiet


Charles Hayward, co-founder of This Heat and Camberwell Now, recently entered his eighth decade, but instead of slowing down, he’s actually stepping the pace up dramatically. After a string of sensational gigs in the UK and the US as part of This Is Not This Heat, a newly revitalised and inspired Charles, formed the band Abstract Concrete in 2019.

The band features Agathe Max (Mésange, UKAEA) on viola, Otto Willberg (Yes Indeed, Historically Fucked) on bass, Roberto Sassi (Snorkel, Cardosanto) on guitar, Yoni Silver (Hyperion Ensemble, Steve Noble) on keyboards and Charles himself on drums and vocals.

Combining sweet chamber pop hooks with dubwise bass, plaintive Balearic guitar licks, and a blend of folk and jazz-informed post punk, accompanied by lyrics that bend from the political to depressed toilet cleaning apparatus, Abstract Concrete follows a continuum of such melodic art school innovators as The Kinks, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, as well as Hayward’s own experimental post punk past, all the while nodding to a childhood spent listening to folk and pop.

The lyrics are “a reaction to the times we’re living in” often reflections on the political climate of today, the impact of Covid and the changing role of music itself, with the songs being composed and structured in unusual ways to emphasise these concerns.

51 Limited Edition Concrete LPs:
+ Limited to just 51 copies
+ Encased in concrete, must be broken to be heard
+ Includes lyrics booklet and CD
+ Designed and made in the award-winning state51 Atelier
[NB: Each special edition will be made to order so shipping will take longer to reflect]





51st Limited Edition Concrete LP:
+ Limited to just one single copy of the Concrete LP
+ Comes palletised with hammer and chisel
+ Includes lyrics booklet and CD
+ Designed and made in the award-winning state51 Atelier



LPs:
+ Strictly limited to 500 copies
+ Black vinyl
+ Housed in an O-card slipcase
+ Die-cut with window
+ Gold foil numbered
+ lncludes lyric booklet









CDs:
+ Limited to 500 copies
+ Ecopak CD




Ventriloquist/Dummy [Official Video]


This Echo [Official Video]