Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Announce Long-Awaited Debut Album, Hope Downs

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (or Rolling Blackouts C.F. for short-ish) have, at long last, announced their debut album. Hope Downs is set for a June 15 release via Sub Pop, and its unveiling is accompanied by the second new Rolling Blackouts C.F. song of 2018.

The Aussie rock quartet’s new single “Talking Straight” was recorded in a house in the middle of the Northern New South Wales bush, like “Mainland” before it. As a press release notes, the song “hits hard with its driving rhythm and melodic, interweaving guitars, while reflecting on the loneliness of being a small person in the big universe.”

“The concept came about when I heard someone talking about the possibility of us, humans, being alone in the universe, and how sad that would be,” singer, songwriter and guitarist Joe White said of “Talking Straight,” adding, “The idea in this song is that we might be lonely, but we could be lonely together.”

The band’s announcement also explains the album’s title, Hope Downs:

The album title, taken from the name of a vast open cut mine in the middle of Australia, refers to the feeling of standing at the edge of the void of the big unknown, and finding something to hold on to. It’s a record that focuses on finding the bright spots at a time when cynicism all too often feels like the natural state.

Rolling Blackouts C.F. have a big year ahead, including festival sets at Coachella, Shaky Knees, Primavera Sound and The Great Escape—you’ll find the band’s full tour slate down below. Hope Downs will be their first release since their 2017 EP The French Press, one of last year’s best.

Watch the “Talking Straight” video (dir. Matt Sav) below, and find the Hope Downs tracklist and album art further down. You can preorder the album here on black vinyl LP, limited-edition light ice blue vinyl “Loser” LP (while supplies last), CD, cassette or digital.

Hope Downs Tracklist:
01. An Air Conditioned Man
02. Talking Straight
03. Mainland
04. Time In Common
05. Sister’s Jeans
06. Bellarine
07. Cappuccino City
08. Exclusive Grave
09. How Long?
10. The Hammer

Hope Downs Album Art:

Rolling Blackouts C.F. Tour Dates:

April
13-15 – Indio, Calif. @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
17 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Echo
20 – Sun. Apr. 22 – Indio, Calif. @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
24 – Portland, Ore. @ Doug Fir Lounge
25 – Seattle, Wash. @ The Crocodile
27 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court
28 – Denver, Colo. @ Larimer Lounge
30 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ 7th Street Entry

May
02 – Chicago, Ill. @ Schubas Tavern – SOLD OUT
03 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement
04 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Shaky Knees Festival
05 – Chapel Hill, N.C. @ Local 506
06 – Washington, D.C. @ DC9
08 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Garrison
10 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Johnny Brenda’s
11 – Allston, Mass. @ Great Scott
12 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Rough Trade (2 Shows, Early Show SOLD OUT)
17 – Brighton, U.K. @ The Great Escape Festival
18 – Nottingham, U.K. @ Rescue Rooms
20 – Glasgow, U.K. @ CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts
21 – Manchester, U.K. @ Gorilla – SOLD OUT
22 – London, U.K. @ Electric Ballroom
24 – Paris, France @ Point Ephemere
26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ London Calling at Paradiso
27 – Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera
28 – Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
29 – Berlin, Germany @ Lido
31 – Brussels, Belgium @ AB Club

June
03 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound
05 – St. Albans, U.K. @ The Horn
06 – Birmingham, U.K. @ The Hare & Hounds
07 – Guildford, U.K. @ Boileroom
08 – Porto, Portugal @ Primavera Porto

August
11 – Rees-Haldern, Germany @ Haldern Pop Festival
16 – Trondheim, Norway @ Pstereo Festival
17 – Bigginghuizen, Netherlands @ Lowlands Festival
18 – Kiewit, Belgium @ Pukklepop Festival
19 – Brecon Beacons, U.K. @ Green Man Festival