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School of Language release concept album about Donald Trump (stream it)

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David Brewis, who is one half of Field Music, is back with his third album as School of Language. It’s the first SoL album in five years but it came together very quickly, from song titles to finished record in just seven weeks. What spurred this creative outpouring? Donald Trump‘s impending visit to the UK (he arrives June 3). “Back in 2013, when I made the last SoL album, I wouldn’t have guessed that the next one would be about a reality TV star-turned-President, who claims to be an expert in, well, everything,” says David, though songs like “Count it Up” and “Goodbye to the Country,” from last year’s great Open Here were pointing in this direction.

“For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by US politics and that fascination became an obsession in the run up to the 2016 election,” says Brewis. “It really made me wonder as to whether I had any understanding of people whatsoever. It feels like Trump’s success has rendered in perfect detail every fault line in Western democracy – how profile beats policy, how corporate interests overwhelm the needs of ordinary people and how ethics and the rule of law are at the mercy of partisanship. To be honest, I could probably have written twice as many songs such is the wealth of scarcely believable material surrounding the Trump administration. It’s like King Lear populated by the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here in the UK, I feel far enough removed that I can turn my revulsion into satire. I don’t think I could do the same with Brexit. It’s too close.”

David also did the great, ’80s-esque, Barney Bubbles-ish cover art and song titles include “Adult in the Room,” “Lock Her Up,” “A Beautiful Man,” and “And Even if I Did.” Musically, it’s scratchy new wave-y, post-punk-y funk and very catchy. You can stream it now and £1 of all sales from the School of Language Bandcamp and the Field Music online shop will be split between Planned Parenthood and Alliance for Choice of Northern Ireland.