It’s still fairly early into this young and nervous year, but Temples have rung the bell with one of the best new tracks of 2023. The English psych-pop group have detailed new album Exotico, set for April 14 release via ATO Records, and with it comes a cosmic buzzsaw of a tune called “Gamma Rays,” which hits the streams today (January 11). Soak it up below.
“In the verse lyrics we’re talking about the grandness of nature, and then the chorus flips that on its head, it sounds like a rejoiceful summer tune about soaking up the rays, but the truth is that soaking up gamma rays will kill you,” says singer and guitarist James Bagshaw. “So it’s about that juxtaposition of beauty and danger that we often find in nature.”
While Sean Ono Lennon is on board as the producer of Exotico, recorded in New York State, the “Gamma Rays” video was directed by Molly Daniel and filmed in the Spanish seaside resort of Benidorm, a British hot spot.
“Filming in Benidorm was inspiring,” Daniel notes. “It’s a very surreal and futuristic space — like Margate meets Vegas meets the end of the world! I wanted a video that felt fast paced and took you on a journey through some great locations.”
Ride shotgun with Temples through their planetary delights.
***