06 September 2024
Newsdesk
Following her breakout in 2023, which saw debut mixtape Black Is The New Gold shortlisted at the Scottish Album Of The Year Awards, one of Scotland’s most exciting artists Brooke Combe announces her debut album Dancing At The Edge Of The World - due for release January 31st, 2025 on Modern Sky Records.
Today also sees the release of brand new track ‘The Last Time’. Following its premiere on BBC Radio 6 Music from Craig Charles, the track is an impactful final goodbye that strikes with every chord and cutting lyric, brilliantly capturing that widespread experience of coming to terms with the fact a relationship in terminal decline cannot be salvaged.
Fans got a first taste of new music when Brooke dropped the album’s title track last month, with her beautifully captivating vocals taking the front seat in this stunning, laid back soul jam.
Collaborating with musician and producer James Skelly, best known as the frontman of The Coral, Dancing At The Edge Of The World is the perfect opening statement, showing a tantalising first look at the artist she will become. Redolent of those first offerings from Michael Kiwanuka, Duffy and Corinne Bailey Rae, it revels in lush, orchestral arrangements, irresistible rhythms and a voice that could have come right out of Motown.
Brooke explains; “This album is the most authentic piece of work I’ve done so far. After experimenting with a few different styles and working with different song writers, I decided to go back to my roots and work with my original team and created something that I genuinely love. We’ve created a real summer soul album. Recorded live to tape, it captures similar vibes to all my favourite old soul records, and delves into themes relating to love, toxic relationships (no surprises there), as well as exploring escapism. Overall this album is raw, mean, groovy & emotional.”
Around the time Brooke was leaving her first label, she wrote the title track, born from a quote Skelly shared with her, embodying hope, freedom, and new beginnings. Returning to her roots, she recorded the album live to tape with her original team, aiming to capture the spirit of her favourite records.
The project, completed in just six months, showcases vocal prowess and emotional depth in tracks like ‘Pieces’ - a dignified yet devastating condemnation of an ex-lover. Her songwriting is deeply personal, ranging from the hypnotic ‘Butterfly’ to the soulful ‘If I Could Only Be Yours’. She explores themes of love and loss with a raw candour in ‘Guilt’, writing from her father's perspective during a rocky relationship. Her empathy and emotional depth are further highlighted in the direct lyrics of ‘L.M.T.F.A.’.
Tipped by Rolling Stone UK as ‘One of 2023’s defining artists’ in their ‘Ones To Watch’ and in Dork Magazine’s ‘Hype List 2023’ and already garnering support from the likes of The Guardian, NME, Clash, BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and Radio X, Brooke Combe continues to rise as one of the UK’s hottest talents.
Throughout the record, Brooke offers listeners a sense of closure but, with it, possibilities – as though with the closing of one door, myriad others are opening to the sound of her voice. Dancing At The Edge Of The World is a resounding, indisputable opening salvo from Britain’s newest and brightest star.
Brooke will return to Liverpool for a very special date at The Arts Club in Liverpool on Friday December 13th.
Dancing At The Edge Of The World - Tracklisting
1. Intro
2. This Town
3. Guilt
4. Shaken By The Wind
5. L.M.T.F.A.
6. The Last Time
7. Pieces
8. If I Could Only Be Yours
9. Lanewood Pines
10. Butterfly
11. Dancing At The Edge Of The World
