Modern Nature have shared “Alpenglow,” the stunning new single and video from their forthcoming album, The Heat Warps, set for release on August 29th via Bella Union. The track follows previous singles “Pharaoh” and “Source,” offering a breathtaking sonic experience that lives up to its name.
Frontman Jack Cooper explains the track’s inspiration, drawn from a drive through New Mexico. “Alpenglow is an optical phenomenon and the name given to the colours around a setting sun. It ties in with the album title in terms of how unseen forces affect the physical world. I wrote the words in their entirety after a long drive through New Mexico in 2024. It was beautiful… mini-tornados (dust devils) in the distance and, for a moment, a Will-o’-the-wisp on the prairie. A strange fire that moved through the undergrowth. I’m sure there was a logical explanation, but sometimes it feels better to believe in something more elusive. It’s about borders, folklore magic and letting something feel euphoric at the expense of logic. We wanted the music to represent that and to make music that people might move to.” The track builds from an atmospheric calm into a propulsive, hypnotic rhythm, designed to “creep up on you and then before you know it, you’re moving!”
“Alpenglow” is a perfect taste of The Heat Warps, which sees the band forge a radical change from the free-form exploration of their past work towards a more structured, direct sound. After extensive touring for 2023’s No Fixed Point In Space, the band found themselves naturally locking into tighter grooves. Main creative force Cooper, alongside Jim Wallis (drums) and Jeff Tobias (bass), has been joined by guitarist Tara Cunningham, creating a powerful four-piece with a dynamic dual-guitar sound.
This new lineup forges a sound that is both focused and energetic, mirroring Cooper’s desire to address contemporary anxieties with purpose and hope. “I think there are still reasons to be optimistic,” he states. “It’s up to communities like ours to double down on the things we believe in.”
To support the album, the band has also announced an extensive North American tour scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026. With The Heat Warps, Modern Nature offer a vital statement: a blend of beautiful consolation and clear-eyed ambition for turbulent times.
All upcoming tour dates can be found on their website here: https://modernnature.band/performances