Ora Cogan to release new album ‘Formless’ May 31st

By Evan Whitton
By May 1, 2024 News

The album will also be followed by a European Tour

Photo credit: Paloma Ruiz

Canadian experimental singer-songwriter Ora Cogan is set to release her album ‘Formless’ in Europe on May 31st.

In a statement, representatives for the singer say that “‘Formless finds beauty, absurdity, humour, and unlikely joy in the bleakest of times”, describing the album’s sound as a “smoky, psychedelic approach to gothic country and hazy folk merged with post-punk, groove, psych rock, and traditional balladry.” The album is also characterised by a philosophical edge, as Ora “seeks out new realities within the smoke-and-mirrors labyrinth of our cruel society.

The singer herself expressed gratitude for the sense of solace working on the record gave her, calling it “a lifeline.” “[it was like] re-calibrating an internal compass constantly thrown off by the magnetism of a deranged world.

“I spent a lot of time wandering aimlessly in the woods with my dog,” said Cogan. This resulted in an album rife with “outpouring of ruminations on awkward love, pain, internal struggles, and a fight to find ways to feel good when everything goes bad.”

Ora reportedly recorded and produced the LP almost completely live in Vancouver Island, with rhythm section David Proctor and Finn Smith. The album also features additional production from David Parry, the use of analogue tape adding to its raw appeal

‘Formless’ will also feature a couple high-profile guest stars. Cormac Mac Diarmada from LANKUM plays strings on “Feel Life,” while Y La Bamba lends vocals to the new single “Ways of Losing”, with a video out now:

Cogan and her band will support ‘Formless’ with a number of EU and UK dates in June 2024. Her performances have been said to “offer a vital antidote to the dystopian alienation of modern life, drawing overlapping audiences of folk, goth, pop, experimental, and even noise and punk fans together like some bizarre sonic/social Venn diagram.”

‘Formless’ is out on May 31st via Prism Tongue. Cogan also heads out on tour soon after, starting in Luxembourg on June 2nd.

See the artwork and track list for ‘Formless’ below:
1. High Noon
2. Holy Hells
3. Feel Life (Ft. Cormac Mac Diarmada)
4. Cowgirl
5. Katie Cruel
6. Ways of Losing (Ft. Y La Bamba)
7. Dyed
8. Drifting
9. Is Anything Wrong?

Tour dates:
02/06/2024 Luxembourg, Rotondes Klub
03/06/2024 Paris, Supersonic Records
05/06/2024 Chambéry, Brin de Zinc
06/06/2024 Geneve, Le Rez Usine
07/06/2024 Munich, Milla
08/06/2024 Regensburg, Void Fest Warm Up
09/06/2024 Krakow, Klub Re
10/06/2024 Warsaw, Chmury
11/06/2024 Brno, Kabinet Muz
12/06/2024 Berlin, Loophole
13/06/2024 Copenhagen, Beta
14/06/2024 Uddevalla, Uddevallakassetten
15/06/2024 Oslo, Dunk
16/06/2024 Bergen, Landmark
18/06/2024 Gothenburg, Koloni
19/06/2024 Malmo, Annelundsgården
21/06/2024 Offenbach-Am-Main, Hafen 2
23/06/2024 Brighton, The Prince Albert
24/06/2024 Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
25/06/2024 Bristol, Crofters Rights
27/06/2024 Glasgow, The Glad Cafe
28/06/2024 Sheffield, Hatch
29/06/2024 London, The Lexington