Irish psychedelic pop sextet Extranauts release new single "Lazarus"

There’s so much good music coming out of Ireland at the moment, with bands such as Fontaines DC, The Murder Capital, Just Mustard and Gilla Band (formerly Girl Band) all riding a popular wave. Can I add another one to that list for you to check out ? Introducing to you Extranauts from Waterford, Ireland, a six piece band made up of Keith O'Neill (Lead vocals & guitar), Alan Stacey (Backing vocals & guitar), Peter Vogelaar (Bass), Peter Sauvage (Drums), Edward O'Neill (Keys & brass) and Tom Coady (Percussion). Taking influence from early 60’s psych-pop such as The Small Faces and The Kinksx they’ve mixed this with a wide range of influences such as New Order and the relentless motorik beat of krautrock such as Neu & Can. Catching the eye (and ear) of Creation Records founder Alan McGee, they have spent the pandemic pulling together their debut album. If you like things such as the Doves, Django Django, Hot Chip or Modest Mouse, you’re going to love Extranauts !

Their new single Lazarus today, ahead of their upcoming debut album “The Alchemist” which is out on 2 June 2023.

A kaleidoscopic and groove-laden guitar-pop record, Lazarus finds hypnotic harmonies and swirling synths pirouette amongst lush layers of percussion. Taking inspiration from the biblical story of Lazarus — the man who defied death to return to the living — it sees the six-piece cook up a little miracle of their own.

Produced by Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Kasabian) and recorded at Grouse Lodge in Westmeath, Ireland, Lazarus tells a tale of regret, redemption and rebirth. As the band explain:

“”Lazarus” is a song about the hope that things can change, but it is also a warning that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”

Said to have been written “forever ago”, Lazarus has been in the Extranauts’ locker for some time and soon cemented itself as an early favourite. Catching the ear of Alan McGee who heard the track while visiting Ireland a few years back, the Creation Records founder dubbed it “a modern day classic” and encouraged them to release it. Finding its verdant and fully-realised form this year, Lazarus finally sees the light of day this Spring.

Lazarus arrives as an early taste of what to expect from Extranauts’ upcoming debut album “The Alchemist”, which is set for release on 2 June 2023. Packed-out with anthemic floor-fillers, the album was also produced by Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Kasabian, Andrew Weatherall), who was able to capture the band’s immense live energy in dazzling technicolour.

Taking inspiration from ‘60s psychedelia just as much as it does dance music, the band’s debut long-player sees Extranauts wear their influences proudly on their sleeves. Funnelling a rich amalgam of genres, styles and sounds into thirteen tracks, the album swings from retro-tinted indie-rock cuts like Uptight and the twangy Liquidator, to more hazy and heavy electro-driven moments like Everybody In The Night and the groove-laden, jangling The New Age Of Innocence.

Alongside the electrifying new single Lazarus, the album also features previous singles Slow Robot, We Used To Dream, It’s About Time and Debonair; all of which are available to hear now.

Boasting a breadth of influences, earworm worthy hooks, and catchy funk-fuelled melodies in aplenty, the long awaited release of ‘The Alchemist’ marks just one small step for Extranauts, and one giant leap into a vibrant, technicolour universe of sounds to come...