Five years on since his last solo album, Fountain Fire, Bill MacKay recently announced his new solo album, Locust Land, which is due for release on May 24th with a tour in June to follow, as well as a new UK date at London’s Café OTO on 4th September. The album announcement was accompanied by his lead single ‘When I Was Here‘, followed by his psychedelic slow-burner ‘Glow Drift’.
Today he shares “Keeping In Time”, an album highlight which finds MacKay employing a searching voice to explore themes of fate and love, as he sings “We take a step forward / Then a glance sideways / But there’s no stopping the motion of the plans you made.” The song was recorded and mixed by MacKay’s BCMC bandmate Cooper Crain, one-third of Bitchin Bajas.
Bill MacKay: “‘Keeping In Time’ was one of those songs that came like a gift, unhurried, un-laboured. The mystery of adoration. Seeing someone for a second sometimes, but there being a flash of recognition that indicates a world of possibilities between you. This song is about that longing to connect whether to a person, place, or vision. It could be to anyone or any part of life that draws you in. Love as not a possession, but a mystery that rings true.”
Discussing Locust Land, MacKay noted, “While making Locust Land I had a breakthrough. I saw that I could truly let a lot of things go, without losing the joy in them, and make something new in a huge way. So it is really about clearing a new path. Making a revolution of my own in life and song.” With cover art also by Bill MacKay (the third of his albums on Drag City to feature his work), Locust Land stands as a thoroughly personal statement from Bill to everyone everywhere.
Order “Locust Land” now: lnk.to/locustland
Bill MacKay Tour Dates:
US
May 23rd @ The Hideout – Chicago, IL
June 3rd @ State Street Pub Indianapolis, IN
June 4th @ Eulogy – Asheville, NC
June 5th @ Tabor – Charlotte, NC
June 6th @ Rhizome – Washington, D.C.
June 7th @ Public Records – Brooklyn, NYC
June 8th @ 90 King St. – Northampton, MA
June 9th @ Bop Shop – Rochester, NY
June 10th @ Moondog Café – Detroit, MI
UK
4th September @ Cafe Oto – London, UK TICKETS