Deaf Havana - Rituals

Rituals is the fifth studio album by British alternative rock band Deaf Havana, released in August 2018 via So Recordings.

Deaf Havana formed in 2005 and is currently comprised of James Veck-Gilodi (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Lee Wilson (bass), Tom Ogden (drums), and Matthew Veck-Gilodi (guitars).

Following their UK Top 5 album All These Countless Nights (2017), Rituals was written as a challenge taken up by James Veck-Gilodi and their productr Phil Gornell, to subvert the band's writing process, and present songs representative of the band in its present stage of development.

Rituals is the result of throwing out the 'Deaf Havana rulebook': first; James picked the song titles, second; he wrote the tracks that fit the theme of those titles, third; everything was written on the computer, then the band came in to play all the parts in the studio.

Working like this felt backwards to James, who had previously only written songs on his acoustic guitar, with continuous input from the rest of the band. They set themselves a deadline of April 2018 to finish writing, and if any of it was any good, they would make it available by August 2018. No more waiting half a decade for people to finally hear new music.

A recurring theme on the album is one of struggle and redemption. The music is in turn introspective and joyous, with help from the London Contemporary Voice Choir, who feature on 5 of the tracks. The band performed with the choir at their intimate show at London's Union Chapel for the War Child charity as part of the Brit Awards gigs.

The theme of redemption ties into the art the band have wrapped into the album cover, a series by the visual artist Wolf James entitled 'My Love Is Lethal (A personal series dedicated to Letting Go)'.

The album peaked at #8 on the UK albums charts and “Sinner” was released as a single.

Check out the tracks:  “Sinner”; “Worship”; and “Wake”.

This limited edition LP record is the deluxe “Sinner” variant on mulberry coloured vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve, with inner sleeve, signed by the band members, pressed in the UK.