Escalate: “To increase rapidly, to make something more serious or greater. A statement of intent, a reflection of everything around us.”

 

So goes the title, and the inherent energy – the interior, burning fire – of the fiercely thrilling debut album from Glasgow’s VLURE, due to be released by Music For Nations on 26th September.  In April, the five piece - Hamish Hutcheson, Alex Pearson, Conor Goldie. Niall Goldie and Carlo Kriekaard - released their first new music in over a year, in the form of ‘Better Days’, now revealed to be the first taste of their long awaited debut album. Co-produced by Conor and Manni Dee (Daniel Avery & HAAi) and with features from Bobby Gillespie, PSweatpants and Gaïa, ‘Escalate’ is a 13 track collection that is the proudly, loudly, avowedly now sound of VLURE’s hometown. The thrills and spills of Glasgow – its daylight and its nightlife and its afterparties – provide the pulse and heartbeat of Escalate.

 

Since their debut single ‘Shattered Faith’ in 2021, VLURE have built themselves a reputation as one of the most vital and culturally significant bands around. Their performances at The Great Escape and Pitchfork Paris were raved about, their set at Shangri-La was talked about across all of Glastonbury and they were nominated as BBC Introducing Scotland’s Artist of the Year in 2023. To add to this, they also won Best Live Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards in 2023 . With ‘Escalate’, VLURE have made a body of work quite unlike anything else out there at the moment but one which, at its core is an album about coming of age, friendship and finding oneself.

 

“It’s for Glasgow. It’s for you, and your mates. It’s for every mad night and every moment when time stood still. Hold it close. Let it escalate.”