BEANS ON TOAST is back with a landmark new album: A Bird In The Hand, set for release on 1st December.
In commemoration of what will be his 10th studio long-player, Beans is leading the charge with an achingly beautiful new single straight from the heart: Another Year. An ode to both his Dad and his daughter, both of whom feature in the video for the song.
Sticking firmly to his tradition of releasing a new album on the same date each year, 2018 was always going to be a big deal for Beans on Toast with album double-digits on the cards. Fittingly for this anniversary, Beans got back in touch with Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, who had produced his first album a decade ago, and together they hatched a plan.
Utilizing the hospitality of Lovett (whose band were spending much of their time at London’s legendary Church Studios making their next record), Beans found himself enjoying the same incredible facilities during off days and late nights, to lay down A Bird In The Hand, along with with the help of in-house engineer, Riley MacIntyre.
Calling in mutual friends, Ben and Beans arranged a team of incredible musicians, including Mumford & Sons’ live drummer Chris Mass and Dutch artist Christof van der Ven on guitar. Ted Dwane offered bass on a couple of tracks, and Ben himself took up piano and production duties to bring a clear, contemporary, and unique vision to the Beans’ songs. The result is arguably Beans on Toast’s finest album to date. The album is diverse, easily switching between folk ballads, punk bangers and swing numbers without ever losing sight of itself or its listener.
A lot has changed in the years since the debut album, in both the world and also in Beans’ personal life, this is reflected in both the sound and the subject matter of this new album. Most notably in the stand out track MAGIC, a song about the birth of his daughter earlier this year. An emotional and honest account of what can usually be a difficult subject to tackle, Beans achieves this without being crass or soppy, almost a trademark of his these days.
Songs about his daughter are scattered through the album, she’s clearly been quite the inspiration. Aforementioned single ANOTHER YEAR offers a touching tribute, whereas HERE AT HOMERTON HOSPITAL is an ode to the East London institution where she was born and its wonderful staff.
There are no songs about getting intoxicated and, surprisingly, not a single profanity on the entire album. This wasn’t purposeful and was actually pointed out after the album had been mastered. However, that doesn’t mean Beans has run out of things to say about the world. BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH tackles the catastrophic plastic pollution disaster we’re living in, whereas ALEXA looks at the future of voice-activated Internet devices and the oncoming Amazon world domination. It’s funny but thought provoking, another one of Beans trademark.
Over the course of his huge career Beans has become something of a cult national treasure. What seemed like a throwaway festival act has evolved into something much more important, a voice of truth and honesty, cutting through the bullshit. A consistent and reliable modern-day troubadour, not afraid to speak his mind. Always touring, always writing, recording and releasing music. Playing every festival under the sun and always, always, telling it like it is.
Beans will perform at the Brudenell Social Club on February 5th, and the Adelphi in Hull on February 12th.