Sorry – Billy Elliot/Alone in Cologne
London band Sorry drop two new singles—”Billy Elliot” and “Alone in Cologne”—via Domino, their first new music since last November’s Cosplay. The tracks arrive ahead of their UK, Ireland, and European tour, kicking off February 11 in Bristol.
“Billy Elliot” finds the band indulging in bittersweet psych-pop. It’s a powerful, disarmingly mournful reflection on the loss of youth and the shift in identity that happens when you return to places that once shaped you. The track features lush synths and dreamy guitar lines, building tension through psychedelic, synth-driven melodic pop that breaks down expectations. There are lyrical nods to The Carpenters and The Verve’s “The Drugs Don’t Work”. Vocalist Asha Lorenz delivers an engaging performance that slowly builds until the whole song coalesces into something like the soundtrack for a carnival that’s so much fun it’s actually pretty scary.
“Alone in Cologne” shifts gears completely. The track incorporates the sound of dialling a number on a landline and moves into funk territory with syncopated bass, sharp funk guitar, and urgent percussion. It’s jittery, restless, and charmingly scrappy—with notes of funk, rap, maybe even a little techno fitting for a song set in the heart of a German city. The track has a belligerent edge that’s actually quite charming, with booming intonations giving it grittiness that cuts through the noise.
Together, the tracks showcase Sorry’s ability to shift moods and structures while resisting any defined genre. The band’s only comment: “I used to be close to you or somebody that I once knew”.
“Billy Elliot” premiered on BBC 6Music with Huw Stephens. The COSPLAY tour wraps with a show at London’s HERE at Outernet on February 26, then heads to Europe for shows in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin.
Tour Dates:
UK/Ireland:
- February 11 – Bristol, UK – The Fleece
- February 12 – Cardiff, UK – The Globe
- February 13 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
- February 15 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
- February 17 – Liverpool, UK – Arts Club (Loft)
- February 18 – Dublin, IRE – The Academy
- February 19 – Glasgow, UK – The Art School
- February 21 – Newcastle, UK – The Cluny
- February 22 – Leeds, UK – The Brudenell Social Club
- February 23 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
- February 25 – Norwich, UK – The Waterfront
- February 26 – London, UK – HERE at Outernet
Europe:
- March 5 – Paris, FR – Trabendo
- March 7 – Brussels, BEL – Botanique
- March 8 – Amsterdam, NL – Tolhuistuin
- March 10 – Berlin, GER – Lido
