Label: So Recordings
Released: 15th July 2022
Deaf Havana’s story has been one of upheaval and reinventions. Once again back from the brink, after effectively having broken up following a 2019 tour, ‘The Present is a Foreign Land’ sees Deaf Havana flicking through their back catalogue and taking inspiration from their best bits.
Shorn down to core creative duo James and Matt Veck-Gilodi, the brothers pull together a collage of everywhere they’ve been together. Combining the pop nous of 2018’s glossy ‘Rituals’, the straight-ahead rock of career-rescuing ‘All Those Countless Nights’ and the Springsteenian choruses of ‘Old Souls’, the album is an affirmation of Deaf Havana’s continuing appeal.
The emo angst of their coming-of-age classic album ‘Fools and Worthless Liars’ has been left in the rear view mirror, but Deaf Havana are proud of where they’ve been since and looking forwards to where they’re headed next. ■ Dillon Eastoe