It’s been five years since La Dispute last released a record. 2014’s Rooms Of The Housewas a poetic, emotional story of love between a couple, but new album Panorama tackles grief in a variety of forms, and how this loss is perceived by those close to you.
After writing for two months, La Dispute scrapped everything and started again. This time with a clearer, more ambitious vision in mind.
“We wanted to make a record that was ethereal and otherworldly; we wanted to write an old screamo record, but we wanted it to be proggy and out-there, with additional instrumentation and layers we haven’t done previously,” vocalist Jordan Dreyer tells Kerrang!, drinking his soda water, sat opposite us in a trendy north London pub.
“[2011 album] Wildlife and Rooms Of The House were grounded so much in realism and actual events. Talking about drifting off into a memory and alternate weird timelines has been really satisfying.”
New album Panorama is inspired by a drive Jordan would regularly take with his partner across Michigan, going between the cities of Grand Rapids and Lowell. On the 20-30-minute trip, she would tell Jordan stories, some of which would stick with him, and have made it on to the record.
Here we explore Panorama song-by-song, diving deep into the alternative timelines and realities La Dispute have created. Grief is a driving factor on the album, as Jordan explores his own reactions to his loved ones’ suffering.