Photo by Eva Vermandel

London’s Desperate Journalist have announced the release of their forthcoming new album No Hero. Out September 27th via Fierce Panda Records, the record follows their 2021 LP Maximum Sorrow!. Along with the announcement, Desperate Journalist have also unveiled their latest single ‘Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2’.

With their sound constantly evolving, ‘Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2’ is indeed just that, with two different rhythms forming the almost six minute cut. The first part kicks off with a thundering post-punk bassline, racing drumming, and eerie synth spreads giving the song a nocturnal mood. Jo Bevan’s vocal work is haunting and alluring all in the same breath. The second part of the song goes even darker as the instrumental palette as the ghostly guitar riffs create a gothic dreamscape that is otherworldly. ‘Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2’ is a fantastic entryway into what DJ’s forthcoming album has to offer.

Touching on the single, front woman Jo Bevan stated:

“This is the first song we wrote specifically as a synth-led track (of which more feature on the album). Lyrically it’s inspired by/fully quotes the John Cassavetes/Gena Rowlands film ‘Opening Night’ which I had seen for the first time shortly before writing the melody and which had struck me with its simultaneously dreamlike and gritty atmosphere. It seemed an appropriate fit for the swirly yet tense chord progression Rob had come up with. Then I added a vaguely satanic choir chorus, obviously. Part 2 is where everything spirals off into space, oblivion, or some kind of dissociative dreamland.”