Today, the GOLDEN DREGS (real name Benjamin Woods) shares a new offering from his forthcoming record, On Grace & Dignity, out on 10th February.

Like its predecessors 'American Airlines' and 'Sundown Lake', 'Before We Fell From Grace' is deeply rooted in Woods’ rich baritone, his voice beautifully laying the foundation for the song to crescendo into a joyous chamber-pop anthem.  The video is equally as striking, Joe Wheatley creating a richly moving black-and-white narrative on the fragility of death.

+ Stream 'Before We Fell From Grace' on all platforms here +

Out on 10 February, Woods’ third album, On Grace & Dignity, considers his home and what it means to be shaped by a place – in this instance, Truro, Cornwall’s capital, home to a rare three-spired cathedral, a peaceful river and a lot of empty shops and flimsy out-of-town housing estates.  In among the personal reflections on loss of innocence and inferiority, Woods spins subtly interweaving narratives about survival, desperate acts of violence, loss and the limitations of community in the face of rapacious gentrification.  On Grace & Dignity unfolds at a graceful pace and is grounded by Woods’s deep voice, which seems to resonate from his feet.  Written, recorded and produced by Woods from his South London home and childhood bedroom in Truro, it was mixed by Ali Chant (Perfume Genius, Aldous Harding) who provided additional production.

+ Pre-order On Grace & Dignity from the 4AD Store here on eco black vinyl, limited clear vinyl and CD +
The first 100 LP pre-orders will be handsigned by Ben
+ Pre-order and pre-save on all formats here + 

For the On Grace & Dignity visuals, Woods commissioned Bristol-based model-maker Edie Lawrence to construct an HO-scale fictional Cornish town.  Christened Polgras, the 8 ft by 4 ft model features a viaduct, an estuary, a supermarket, new-build houses and industrial buildings; every song from On Grace & Dignity is represented by a scene in the town. 

“There are different parts of the experience of growing up in Cornwall in there,” he says.  “Some of it was from me looking at it when I was down there that winter, and some of it was me harking back to the experience of growing up there. It’s defined by that sense of duality, of coexisting realities,” he explains.  “You’re geographically so far away, and it has a strong identity of its own, as well as a different landscape.  It’s so rugged and bleak, but beautiful – which is what I really like in music.”

Before We Fell From Grace also arrives ahead of the GOLDEN DREGS’ US live debut in March.  He’ll be playing on both coasts in Brooklyn and Los Angeles with support from Julian Klincewicz in LA.  He’ll also make stops at SXSW and Treefort Music Festival.  To celebrate the release of On Grace & Dignity, Woods has announced a run of release week UK in-store performances.  All dates are below, head here for more information.

Feburary UK In-Store Tour (Free Entry)
10th - Resident, Brighton, UK (Solo)
11th - Drift, Totnes, UK (Lunchtime)
11th -  The Cornish Bank w/ Jam Records, Falmouth, UK (Evening)
12th - Rough Trade, Bristol, UK (Solo)
13th - Rough Trade, Nottingham, UK (Solo)
14th - Truck, Oxford, UK (Solo)
15th - Pie & Vinyl, Southsea, UK (Solo)
16th - Rough Trade East, London, UK (Solo)

March
9th - Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, NY, US
13th - 18th - SXSW, Austin, TX, US
23rd - Gold Diggers, Los Angeles, CA, US
24-25th - Treefort Music Festival, Boise, ID, US 

April
6th - Village Underground, London, UK
13th - Le Grande Mix, Lille, France
14th - Hasard Ludique, Paris, France
15th - Motel Mozaique Festival, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
17th - AB Club, Brussels, Belgium
19th - Loppen, Copenhagen, Denmark
20th - Krøsset, Oslo, Norwat
21st - Kristallen @ Sodra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden
23rd - Molotow, Hamburg, Germany
24th - Bumann & Sohn, Cologne, Germany
25th - Urban Spree, Berlin, Germany

May
5th - Elsewhere, Margate, UK
6th - Green Door Store, Brighton, UK
8th - The Louisiana, Bristol, UK
9th - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
13th - Workman's Club, Dublin, IE
14th - Roisin Dubh, Galway, IE
16th - Mono, Glasgow, SC
17th - Cluny 2, Newcastle, GB
18th - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, GB