Swedish post-psych band Den Der Hale are known for their boundary-pushing soundscapes. Today, the group has shared 'Donkey Skin', the second single from their forthcoming second album, ‘Pastoral Light’. The album (out February 2nd) showcases the band's ability to meld diverse creative inspirations into a seamless and experimental sonic journey, transcending genres and defying conventions.
'Donkey Skin', is one of the band's earliest compositions, a hypnotic 6-and-a-half minute opus that draws inspiration from a 70's French film of the same name. The film, directed by Jacques Demy, is a wildly eccentric adaptation of a classic French fairy tale in which a princess goes into hiding as a scullery maid in order to fend off an unwanted marriage proposal—from her own father, the king. Though the track began as a full acoustic composition, the dreamy atmosphere of the film soon bled into the song writing, and a more effect-driven and ethereal sound was decided on.
Featuring ‘Vreden Över Jord‘ on the B-side, ‘Donkey Skin’ is out now on 10” lathe-cut vinyl (limited to just 20 copies) here and available for download and across streaming platforms here.
‘Pastoral Light’ is due for release on February 2nd 2024 with a webstore-only clear vinyl edition available to pre-order here.
With Pastoral Light, enigmatic Swedish post-psych quintet Den Der Hale have crafted an album that transcends the ordinary, inviting listeners on a journey that delves into the intricacies of human existence and our relationship with the natural world – the proliferation of mankind and its impact on the environment. A very limited edition webstore only clear vinyl edition of Pastoral Light, due for release on February 2nd 2024, is available to preview and pre-order now.