Tulipomania have always been a musical act who are keen on crossing genres and pushing boundaries, but with their ‘Dreaming of Sleep’ album (released in the dying weeks of 2023), the art rock duo took a big leap into the unknown. By dispensing with all guitars, the album’s material took an even darker and rather fierce turn, blending post punk, darkwave and goth influences to unleash a very arty collection of songs. It was the kind of record that wouldn’t appeal to a wide audience, and even some of their actual fans would be expected to work a little harder to reap the rewards, but it was never less than interesting.

Their upcoming full length, ‘Absolution’ – expected early 2025 – mixes new material with “reimagined” pieces and promises to be just as vivid, but not necessarily in the same way. ‘Absolution’ has been created as the soundtrack for the book of the same name, by acclaimed author Jeff Vandermeer, and judging by the first taste of the new record, in true Tulipomania style, their imagined soundtrack will not take either an easy or predictable route.

That first taste, supplied by the digital single ‘I’ve Been Told – Absolution’, mshows off Tulipomania’s penchant for the strange. Initially, the wash of synths coupled with a steady beat tricks the listener into thinking they’re in fo a fairly melodic slice of synth pop with goth-esque overtones, but Tulipomania, naturally, never make it that easy. Joining the hard edged groove, you’ll find a pair of vocalists delivering the featured lyric in a truly unsettling manner. A deep tone, courtesy of Tom Murray, mumbles in a way that’s complimentary to the pulsing elements of the music, but its the counterpart that really stands out. Throughout these three minutes, Cheryl Gelover approaches her performance in a terrifically haunted way, with a voice adopting a sinister warble. This not only makes the narrative feel much darker, but also twists the main hook in such a way that it actually sounds like a warning. Although, from a musical standpoint, this actually manages to be a little more accessible than parts of ‘Dreaming of Sleep’, that very affected vocal will be enough to send away any wary listeners in record time.

With a mix of artiness, mechanised rhythms, an alternative 80s coolness updated for the 2020’s and a truckload of confidence applied, this single adds something really sharp to the Tulipomania catalogue. It’s hooky, without ever being traditionally catchy; genuinely ominous, yet appealing in its own weird way. If you’re already familiar with Tulipomania, chances are you’ll love it. Take a listen below.