Post-punk legends The Danse Society, now based in Scarborough, release new album Sailing Mirrors to mark 40th anniversary

Post-punk legends The Danse Society are celebrating 40 years with their seventh studio album and a video shot in Scarborough.
The Danse Society supporting Toyah at Scarborough Market Hall in February.The Danse Society supporting Toyah at Scarborough Market Hall in February.
The Danse Society supporting Toyah at Scarborough Market Hall in February.

‘Sailing Mirrors’ is released on September 1 and is the culmination of over two years of work by the Scarborough-based band.

The first video from the album - ‘Valerio’s Theme’ - was shot in Scarborough, while observing social distancing.

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The band formed as a five-piece in 1980 in Barnsley but are now Scarborough based.

The Danse Society.The Danse Society.
The Danse Society.

They released their first single ‘Clock’ themselves and travelled up and down the country promoting it.

John Peel featured them on his radio show, and they went on to tour with Killing Joke, Bauhaus and The Cure.

Their single ‘Somewhere’ reached number one in the independent chart, and they were soon signed to a major label, debut album Seduction reaching number 3 in the UK indie chart.

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In 1987, the band broke up but, after calls from fans on social media, they decided to reform in 2010.

The cover of the new album.The cover of the new album.
The cover of the new album.

The band said: “Getting together after nearly 25 years was at first strange, but both cathartic and magical, and in the studio it all came back.”

Without their original lead singer, Steven Rawlings, the band decided to recruit Maethelyiah, who won them over with her strong voice and song-writing skills.

Founder member, guitarist Paul Nash, still leads the band, which also includes well-known Scarborough musician and music tutor Tom Davenport on drums.

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Their previous three albums since they reformed have received critical acclaim, the last being introduced on BBC6 Radio as the best the band ever sounded.

They supported 80s legend Toyah Wilcox in an electrifying gig at Scarborough's Market Hall in February this year, and were in the middle of a tour when it had to be brought to an abrupt halt because of the pandemic.

The band have had to reschedule the dates but plan to be back on the road again with an extensive summer tour of the UK in 2021, as well as European dates.

Sailing Mirrors is available to pre-order, including on limited edition gatefold-sleeve multi-coloured vinyl, from www.thedansesociety.com

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