Courting announce third album ‘Lust for Life, Or: How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’

News

21 Nov

Liverpool indie favourites Courting have revealed details of their third album, Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’, set for release on 14 March 2025 via Lower Third. Known for their playful genre-blending and witty approach to songwriting, the band promises a more stripped-back and direct sound on their latest project.

Frontman Sean Murphy-O’Neill described the upcoming album as an intentional departure from the sprawling theatrics of 2023’s New Last Name.

“We wanted to keep everything incredibly direct—to hit everyone in the face and leave,” he explained. The record’s eight tracks mix infectious pop hooks with sharp, experimental twists, all while maintaining the band’s trademark humour and intricate storytelling.

Accompanying the announcement is the lead single, “Pause at You,” a dance-punk gem brimming with energy and clever observations. The track captures the euphoria and paranoia of nightlife with its pulsing beats and lyrical snapshots. Speaking about the single, Murphy-O’Neill said,

“Pause at You is a culmination of everything we’ve been working on over the last few years—an observation on night-time paranoia mixed about with night-out ecstasy. Light outing, floor filling, tie undressing, rock.”

The single is paired with a visualiser directed by Charlie Barclay Harris, adding a cinematic edge to the song's lively spirit.

Lust for Life explores a wide sonic palette, balancing raw emotion with a refined structure. The two-part title track is particularly ambitious, moving from an eerie, minimalistic intro to an explosive finale. Meanwhile, tracks like “Stealth Rollback” channel edgy electronic influences, and “Eleven Sent (This Time)” leans into brighter, pop-leaning melodies.

Murphy-O’Neill hinted at the album’s symmetry and underlying concepts:

“Two titles, artwork in two colours, which features two figures, and has eight tracks, all set up with a twin structure. The opening track is mirrored by the closer, ‘Likely Place,’ with the same looping motif played first with strings, then with a sharp electric guitar buzz.”

The album arrives on the heels of Courting’s debut US tour and precedes a nine-date UK tour beginning 15 March 2024 in Leeds. The band’s relentless creative output—three albums and an EP in just three years—has solidified their position as one of the UK’s most daring indie acts. Murphy-O’Neill summed up the band’s journey:

“It does feel like an end to something, but I’m not really sure what. It’s like everything we’ve done so far has culminated in this album.”

With their fearless approach to blending indie, hyperpop, and experimental rock, Courting continue to challenge expectations while delivering music that resonates with fans and critics alike.

Save the date for Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’, and watch the visualiser for the new single “Pause At You”: