Single Of The Week - "It Is Finished When It's Destroyed" and "Ghost Foxes" by The Academy Of Sun

The Academy of Sun is a post-punk, neo-psychedelic, neo-classicism, goth-rock band based in Brighton and Manchester, whose melodramatic arrangements and theatrical presence makes them a compelling act. Comprised of Nick Hudson (vocals piano/synths/, Hammond organ/harmonium, percussion, synths), Kianna Blue (bass, synths), Guy Brice (guitars) and Ash Babb (drums), The Academy of Sun are a prolific, ever-evolving act that unites the spoken word of art and music and offers a cinematic commentary. A contemporary fusion of new wave aesthetics and poetic musings, The Academy of Sun beams, burns and rises from dusk to dawn, whilst smouldering from the shadows of introspection and self-reflection. They are a great band, that create music that is classically crafted and enthusiastically expressive.

Following the success of their album The Quiet Earth, released in 2020, The Academy Of Sun have released a double-A single, It Is Finished When It’s Destroyed and Ghost Foxes, which has been selected as my “Single Of The Week”. Released on 4th February 2022, via Heaven’s Lathe, the double-sided single is testament to The Academy Of The Sun’s skill at creating music that is original, striking and resonates from the lucid lineage of ancestral post-punk.

It Is Finished When It’s Destroyed bobs straight from the 80s vault of new wave amongst the dry ice synth-pop. It’s a captivating track, whose tribal beats pulsate through the timelines of post-punk, aside from the interlude of relaying vocals and jangly riffs. Along with the seeping discord and brooding baseline, It Is Finished When It’s Destroyed slithers with a darkwave ambience that sits nicely in the recesses of ethereal rock.

Ghost Foxes is spiked with a cocktail of Spanish-esque staccato strums, and flickers of spectral synths that spin and rotate from the haze of the haunting Hammond. It’s a track that rolls with tension and suspense, having a flamingo flutter, whilst doing the Fox-Trot on a post-punk dance floor. Along with the prowling bass, aloof backing vocals, and closing riffs, Ghost Foxes vapour trails with an ethereal beauty, that lingers in the corridors of darkwave.

Curated by writer, broadcaster and DJ Graham Duff and manufactured by Bladud Flies!, Heaven’s Lathe is dedicated to bringing out the highest quality 7″ singles, releasing one album (limited to 100 copies) each month on lathe-cut vinyl with engraved centres.

The Academy of Sun’s new single is available both digitally and on vinyl via Bandcamp. This black hand-numbered high quality stereo vinyl features an engraved Heaven’s Lathe logo, 230gsm sleeve, black inner sleeve and PVC protective sleeve. Also find it digitally via Apple Music, Spotify and Juno Download.

It Is Finished When It’s Destroyed / Ghost Foxes | The Academy Of Sun | Heaven’s Lathe (heavenslathe.co.uk)

CREDITS
Written by Nick Hudson, arranged by The Academy Of Sun:
Nick Hudson, Guy Brice, Kianna Blue, Ash Babb
Vocals & synths recorded by Nick Hudson at The Lament Configuration.
Bass recorded by Kianna Blue at Alfie Towers.

A side guitars/drums recorded by Joseph Thorpe at Brighton Electric.
B side drums recorded by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios, Hove.
A side mixed by Randall Dunn at Circular Ruin Studios NYC.
B side mixed by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios Hove.
Mastered by Randall Dunn at Circular Ruin Studios NYC.
Artwork & layout by Ash Babb, Cover painting by Nick Hudson.
All lathe cutting and engineering is by Michael Lawrence.
Design by Lauren Winton (Bladud Flies!)