New Music: Late Again – All My Exes Moved to the Countryside

Brooklyn-based Brazilian musician Late Again has shared a very laid-back video for his new track, All My Exes Moved to the Countryside.

Coming in advance of his I Dreamt I Was Awake EP next month, it’s a very thoughtful and sharp insight into what Late Again – aka Rafael Melo – calls “a literal and very specific fun fact from my life that still manages to feel universal.”

Dream pop gets waylaid by an especially summery, minimalist bossa nova melody and wry, almost deadpan vocals that regal the listener with talk of sourdough starters, tarot cards, and rent rises.

As an ex who did move to the countryside, I do feel a bit seen by the song, but then it’s fascinating and illuminating to know how others may perceive your actions, even if Melo might be showing something of a playful side here too. I got thinking that way thanks to the video, its retro look having the air of a 70s information film that is slightly faded with age.

With its pleasantly pastoral arrangement and precise observation of the tensions between wanting a simpler life and dealing with modern urban reality, it should easily find willing listeners in fans Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala, Men I Trust, and Clairo.

I Dreamt I Was Awake is out on the 4th of September and is now available for pre-order on his Bandcamp page. You can find streaming pre-save options here.

Late Again plays Vienna on the 3rd of October, and on the 6th of October he is in London for a gig at The Social. For information on all that and much more, check out Late Again on Instagram.