Mên An Tol have today shared their new single ‘Not Ideal’, produced by Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines DC. The track is a chiming epic. Layers of acoustic guitars and mandolin build to a life-affirming chorus with frontman Bill Jefferson’s impassioned vocal adding a huge dose of soul.
On the track Bill shares:
“To burn with desire and keep it quiet is punishment. So I wrote ‘Not Ideal’, it’s the feeling of unrequited love set to classic pop tune. It’s a live favourite without people even hearing a recording of it so we wanted to get that right. Going into the studio with Carlos felt like a great marriage, he totally understood the soul of the song and with his production and playing took it to the level it called for.”
Producer Carlos O’Connell says:
“It was a real honour and a pleasure to work with Mên An Tol. A talented and promising band. I found a real beauty in working together with them, seeing a band at such a formative stage, with intent and vulnerability at the core. It was just a treat to be reminded of the early days, before the masses have made up an opinion on the spirit of something. If I know anything about the process, it is that it is an ever-changing thing. You constantly relearn and recall. I learned from these boys. I experienced real joy seeing them as they develop into a very very exciting band.”
‘Not Ideal’ is the first track to be taken from the London five-piece’s new EP This Land, out 26 September. On the same day they will release the vinyl-only compilation Regional Music made up of their two EPs to date.
The single comes after the band played two shows at this year’s Glastonbury Festival and then supported Miles Kane at London’s Moth Club and The Libertines at the Eden Project. They also recently played The Great Escape, supported Yannis & The Yaw, and completed a brilliant three-date residency at The Dublin Castle. Upcoming dates include a UK tour with Cardinals. Full details below.
Mên An Tol Live Dates
July
15 – Nijmegen (NL) – Valkhof
17 – Lucerne (SUI) – Luzern Live
August
9 – Haldern (DE) – Haldern Pop
September
5 – Asten (NL) – Misty Fields
22 – Bristol – Strange Brew (w/ Cardinals)
23 – Southampton – Joiners (w/ Cardinals)
25 – Norwich – Waterfront Studio (w/ Cardinals)
26 – Leeds – Belgrave (w/ Cardinals)
27 – Manchester – Yes Pink Room (w/ Cardinals)
29 – Brighton – Patterns (w/ Cardinals)
30 – London – Moth Club (w/ Cardinals)
October
17 – Cardiff (UK) – SWN
23 – Rotterdam (NL) – Left Of The Dial
24 – Rotterdam (NL) – Left Of The Dial
31 – Amsterdam (NL) – London Calling
For more information on Mên An Tol plesae check their instagram and spotify.