New album - Famously melancholic: "L.A. Times" by Travis appears
Travis celebrate an important milestone this year. It's been 25 years since the Scots became known to the world with their album "The Man Who" and their hit single "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" Despite their melancholic sound, which some critics call one-sided, they never managed the massive breakthrough like Oasis or Blur, who eventually filled stadiums. However, the band from Glasgow has a loyal fanbase in their British homeland and consistently delivers new music.
Home base Los Angeles as inspiration
The new album, which is their tenth from Travis, is called "L.A. Times." The cover features a photo of the band members in front of the Los Angeles skyline. Frontman Fran Healey has lived in Los Angeles for years and owns a recording studio on the outskirts of Skid Row. The district is famous for its high population of homeless people, one of the highest in the US.
The title track, where Healy speaks more than sings, looks back on the image that daily presents itself to him in Skid Row. "There are people here who literally have nothing," the singer told the British magazine "NME," "and then a canary yellow Lamborghini drives by, in which a guy sits with jewels on his hand." This social contrast provided Healy with thematic inspiration.
Single "Gaslight" stands out
The band lineup has remained constant since their first, almost unnoticed single "All I Want to Do Is Rock" from 1996. Besides main songwriter Healy, who currently looks a bit like a nerdy mix of Keith Flint and Pumuckl with his orange-colored mohawk, are guitarist Andy Dunlop, bassist Dougie Payne, and drummer Neil Primrose on board.
The first single "Gaslight" is a real earworm. The song deals with psychological violence and manipulation - and is surprisingly uplifting, especially compared to other Travis songs. On the current tour of the Scots as the support act for US superstars The Killers, the quirky song stood out because the setlist of Travis was otherwise predominantly slow, quiet, and melancholic.
Travis remain Travis
Apart from "Gaslight," the quartet remains true to their warm, emotional sound on "L.A. Times" for the most part. Soft Indie-Pop ("Bus") meets heartfelt acoustic guitar-folk with Radiohead influences ("Live It All Again" is about Healy's failed marriage) and psychedelic folk-pop ("I Hope That You Spontaneously Combust"). In the moving "Alive," Healy processes the cancer death of music video director Ringan Leddle, whom he was friends with. On the other hand, "The River," a song about fatherhood, is almost stormy.
The cover photo, which photographer and longtime Travis collaborator Stefan Ruiz took, reminds one not accidentally of the album covers of their successful albums "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band." According to Healy, who turned 50 during the production of the album, "L.A. Times" is their most personal since 1999 - and it sounds reminiscent of it as well. Thirty years after their first single, Travis still sound uniquely like Travis.
- Travis found inspiration for their new album "L.A. Times" in their home base of Los Angeles.
- The title track of the album reflects Fran Healey's observations of the social contrast in Skid Row, Los Angeles.
- Despite the consistent lineup since their debut in 1996, Travis' sound remains diverse, blending genres like Indie-Pop, acoustic folk, and psychedelic folk-pop.
- Healey, who currently resembles a nerdy mix of Keith Flint and Pumuckl, has lived in Los Angeles for years and runs a recording studio there.
- The first single "Gaslight" from "L.A. Times" is an unexpected departure, dealing with psychological violence and manipulation, but offering an uplifting tone.
- The new studio album draws parallels to their earlier successful albums, particularly "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band," with its personal and emotional themes, showcasing that Travis remains uniquely Travis after three decades.
