Electronic and dancefloor pioneers Leftfield have announced This Is What We Tour ‘23 in support of their acclaimed new album This Is What We Do.
Taking place in May and June, the tour includes dates rescheduled due to illness as well as new dates across the UK, kicking off at London’s Steel Yard on 18th May, and coming to Bournemouth O2 Academy on 27th May.
This Is What We Do is Leftfield’s first album of new music since 2015’s feted Alternative Light Source. The album was crafted by Neil Barnes with long-time studio and mix engineer Adam Wren, and features guest contributions from Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten, Lemn Sissay and more.
This Is What We Do, is an eclectic long-player that embodies the core optimistic ethos of the iconic dance music act. Exploring themes around love, acceptance, diversity and healing, the album was written before and after two extremely challenging and transformative periods in the life of Barnes. The global pandemic, and his own personal health crisis, both having a direct impact on the creative process, with his own drive to heal childhood trauma as a backdrop. As a result, the new LP is a rich, vibrant, positive and potent cocktail of incendiary cuts that epitomises Leftfield’s uncompromising approach to dance music. Tapping into the roots of the culture – subversive, radical, progressive and inclusive – This Is What We Do is a positive and powerful record that addresses personal themes which also reflect our current global experience.
Formed in 1988, Leftfield quickly became one of the most influential and innovative dance music acts of all time. Originally comprised of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley, Leftfield’s legendary live-performances paired with seminal albums, 1995s Leftism and 1999s Rhythm & Stealth (both Mercury Music Prize nominees), solidified their position as true pioneers.
The group then went on a hiatus in 2002 before returning in 2010 for live appearances (now led solely by Barnes). 2015’s Alternative Light Source was the first Leftfield album in sixteen years. The record garnered acclaim from The Guardian, The Observer, Uncut, Mojo and more, and featured Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods) and Tunde Adebimpe (TV on The Radio), amongst others. In 2017 the band reissued their classic album Leftism, remastering the original 11 tracks of the record and releasing 11 remixes. They then embarked on a special sold-out tour in support of the reissue, playing Leftism in its entirety.
For tickets and more information, visit leftfieldmusic.com
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Photo by Steve Gullick
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