THE WYTCHES recently announced their fifth studio album "Talking Machine" for October 10, 2025, via Alcopop! Records.
Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. That’s exactly what THE WYTCHES from Brighton (UK) have done with their new album Talking Machine – and in more than one way. On one hand, the album's title was inspired by a book about Thomas Edison, who referred to gramophones as “Talking Machines.” On the other hand, it’s also about the music itself. Although The Wytches – now consisting of Kristian Bell (vocals/guitar), Daniel Rumsey (bass), Mark Breed (keyboards/guitar), and Bhav Thaker (drums) – have always had a somewhat anachronistic vibe since their formation in 2011 in Peterborough, this album represents a very conscious step back to past influences to create the eleven songs.
The link to TALKING MACHINES is as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXE6MdH_Ldc
“I read the term ‘Talking Machine’ in a book about Thomas Edison. It was his nickname for gramophones. I thought it fit well as an album title. At the same time, I’m very concerned about the topic of AI, like many others, and I saw a connection here as well. Edison held so-called 'Tone Tests' where he demonstrated how much audio recordings had improved by making the audience believe that real musicians were playing live – in reality, the recordings were already being played on a gramophone. People feared back then that many jobs in the entertainment industry and beyond could be replaced by technology – very similar to today,” said singer and guitarist Kristian Bell about the title track of the new album.
Since their formation in 2011 in Peterborough, the band – consisting of Kristian Bell (vocals/guitar), Daniel Rumsey (bass), Mark Breed (keyboards/guitar), and Bhav Thaker (drums) – has had a timeless quality. For Talking Machine, they consciously return to their roots: The songs were recorded live together in the studio, produced by Luke Oldfield. For the first time since their debut Annabel Dream Reader (2014), the band is working in such a puristic way again – with palpable energy and small imperfections that give the recordings their humanity.
Musically, the album bridges 60s garage, dark psych-rock, and the raw power of surf guitars. Bell found inspiration during his time as a record store employee, where he discovered old 60s bands as well as 80s revival acts like The Milkshakes or The Cannibals. Instead of complicated structures, he opts this time for simple, direct songs – with a unique twist.
THE WYTCHES - "Talking Machine" EU Tour 2025
11.11. FRA - Paris, Point Ephemere
12.11. Cologne, Bumann & Sohn
14.11. NL - Nijmegen, Merkeyn
15.11. BE - Brussels, Tough Enough Festival
16.11. Hamburg, Molotow
18.11. Berlin, Neue Zukunft
Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. That’s exactly what THE WYTCHES from Brighton (UK) have done with their new album Talking Machine – and in more than one way. On one hand, the album's title was inspired by a book about Thomas Edison, who referred to gramophones as “Talking Machines.” On the other hand, it’s also about the music itself. Although The Wytches – now consisting of Kristian Bell (vocals/guitar), Daniel Rumsey (bass), Mark Breed (keyboards/guitar), and Bhav Thaker (drums) – have always had a somewhat anachronistic vibe since their formation in 2011 in Peterborough, this album represents a very conscious step back to past influences to create the eleven songs.
The link to TALKING MACHINES is as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXE6MdH_Ldc
“I read the term ‘Talking Machine’ in a book about Thomas Edison. It was his nickname for gramophones. I thought it fit well as an album title. At the same time, I’m very concerned about the topic of AI, like many others, and I saw a connection here as well. Edison held so-called 'Tone Tests' where he demonstrated how much audio recordings had improved by making the audience believe that real musicians were playing live – in reality, the recordings were already being played on a gramophone. People feared back then that many jobs in the entertainment industry and beyond could be replaced by technology – very similar to today,” said singer and guitarist Kristian Bell about the title track of the new album.
Since their formation in 2011 in Peterborough, the band – consisting of Kristian Bell (vocals/guitar), Daniel Rumsey (bass), Mark Breed (keyboards/guitar), and Bhav Thaker (drums) – has had a timeless quality. For Talking Machine, they consciously return to their roots: The songs were recorded live together in the studio, produced by Luke Oldfield. For the first time since their debut Annabel Dream Reader (2014), the band is working in such a puristic way again – with palpable energy and small imperfections that give the recordings their humanity.
Musically, the album bridges 60s garage, dark psych-rock, and the raw power of surf guitars. Bell found inspiration during his time as a record store employee, where he discovered old 60s bands as well as 80s revival acts like The Milkshakes or The Cannibals. Instead of complicated structures, he opts this time for simple, direct songs – with a unique twist.
THE WYTCHES - "Talking Machine" EU Tour 2025
11.11. FRA - Paris, Point Ephemere
12.11. Cologne, Bumann & Sohn
14.11. NL - Nijmegen, Merkeyn
15.11. BE - Brussels, Tough Enough Festival
16.11. Hamburg, Molotow
18.11. Berlin, Neue Zukunft
