Norwich quartet Takeda return with ‘Reynardine’ and announce the upcoming debut album In Venus’ Train (September 17th on Drongo Records).
An elegant folk grower which brings the musicality of Ben Howard with the drive of Pearl Jam and even undercurrents of Fleetwood Mac, the track displays the band’s unique sonic approach.
Produced by David Pye (Szun Waves, Trudy & the Romance, Faithless, Dido), ‘Reynardine’ is built around some elegant, intricately constructed finger-picked acoustic guitar and elegant ambience that gradually grows more distorted and intense over the driving drums and subtle strings. Topped with some stunning, beautifully nuanced lead vocals from band leader and writer Josh Harrison, the track brings a poetic sense of unrest and beauty.
At the four-minute mark the track moves to a stunning, ambient build and eventual explosive climax as fuzzy tones overbare the gentle textures of the track’s opening.
Talking about the single, Harrison explains, “Reynardine is based on the English folk tale of the same name. Musically, this is Takeda’s DNA: folk songs and melodies tied together with heavy guitar parts, thumping rhythms and huge choruses.
This song is about the hidden person within, who acts unseen and often undetected until it’s too late.
The folk rock of Fairport Convention fused with the colossal scale of Sigur Ros.”
In Spring 2022, Josh Harrison escaped a cult in rural England and formed Takeda. Growing up in a cult was the fertile soil for sprouting a unique brand of Folk-Rock – where fuzz tined acoustic guitars and soaring, yet fragilic vocals collide to create music which is melodic and heartfelt, yet intense and gritty.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Josh recruited Charlie Wilson on Drums and David Woodgett on Bass. Together, they turned those songs into something way bigger than the sum of their parts, labelling themselves “the loudest acoustic guitar on Earth”. With Ollie Welch joining the band for the live stage, Takeda will be touring In Venus’ Train in September 2025 across the UK in support of the release.
Already gaining early support across tastemaker press (Notion, Ones To Watch, Psychedelic Baby Magazine, Earmilk to name a few) and radio (Radio X, Amazing Radio C-List), the upcoming debut album In Venus’ Train channels mystical figures from folk-lore and biblical metaphors, writing songs about obsession, love and grieving a past life. Drawing influence in equal measure from British folk revivalists Fairport Convention and alt-metal icons Tool, the album fuses melodic and emotional sensibility of folk with the noise and fuzzed guitar tones of grunge, ultimately making music that sounds something like if Nick Drake joined Pile.
Tour Dates:
September 18th – The Bear Club, Luton
September 19th – Waterfront Studio, Norwich
September 20th – Venus Vinyl, Instore (acoustic), Norwich
September 21st – Dublin Castle, London
September 25th – The Cavendish Arms, London
September 27th – The Blue Moon, Cambridge
Takeda – Reynardine
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