Galaxians - Feel In Motion (LP sampler)

Galaxians return with their first new album in six years, ‘Feel In Motion’. Expanding their live disco remit to incorporate fresh shades of street soul, funk and boogie, the Leeds trio’s third LP delivers on the sensory promise of its title, introducing new vocalist Beccy Young, as well as their most ambitious songwriting and instrumentation to date. A celebration of euphoric choruses, irresistible basslines and even giddier breakdowns, ‘Feel in Motion’ is enriching dance music blessed with a deeply human touch.

Initially emerging in 2012 under the guidance of founding members Jed Skinner and Matt Woodward, Galaxians have since shared the stage with like-minded icons of funk including ESG, D­âm Funk and Tom Tom Club, their contribution to this continuum always emerging from their residence in Leeds. Here in West Yorkshire, their studio practice pays earnest tribute to the soulful “pre-digital” philosophy of Arthur Russell, Leroy Burgess or Gwen Guthrie, exploding into life throughout their cultishly beloved live shows and festival performances.

Whereas previous LPs ‘Let The Rhythm In’ (2017) and ‘Chemical Reaction’ (2020) took transatlantic cues from house and disco’s pioneers, ‘Feel In Motion’ endeavours to find its rhythm both further afield and yet, closer to home. From the excitable opening squelch of lead single ‘Worlds Apart’, Galaxians lean into the distinctive aesthetic of UK street soul. Melding RnB with the nascent machine technology driving the acid house scene in the late eighties and nineties, the sound emerged from Black music scenes in South London, soon finding further appreciation in the more adventurous corners of the Northern Soul movement, then reverberating across the Pennines to Leeds’ historical dub and reggae soundsystems.

“As a band, what we love about street soul is the sense of naivety, between pop and dance music”, explains founding member Matt Woodward. “For this album, we wanted to move into a more bombastic, swingy, bassline-driven style for the songs, while paying tribute to the spirit of the drum machine rhythms on classics like ‘Make a Move’, by Purely Fizzycal. It’s our love letter from Leeds to an influential London sound.”

“I joined Galaxians during a transitional period in my life and the lyrics throughout ‘Feel In Motion’ echo my experiences at the time the album was being made”, explains Beccy Young. “I've always loved the juxtaposition of upbeat music you can dance to with introspective lyrics about the trials and tribulations of being a human with feelings.”

The album reaches its most overtly club-oriented moment with ‘Fantasy’, which sees Young’s organic vocals duelling with her vocoded self across a deeply satisfying house number that fulfills a certain cybertronic promise, offering a nocturnal, seductive call to “call me baby, fulfill my fantasy.”

Galaxians - 'Worlds Apart' is set for release on the 27th of May, to be followed by a further single, 'Fantasy' on the 6th of June.

The new album from Galaxians - 'Feel In Motion' is due for release on the 10th of July, and will be available as 2 x 12" LP & digital via Some Pulp Recordings.

Tour dates:

23.05 LEEDS Howard Assembly Rooms
05.06 NEWCASTLE Cobalt Studios
03.07 LEEDS Sela Bar (DJ set)
10.07 LONDON The Social
11.07 HUDDERSFIELD Amped