ABSOLUTE TREAT, THE NEW MONIKER OF DILETTANTE, RELEASE NEW EP, SHATTERED LOVE, OUT TODAY VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS
BUY / STREAM SHATTERED LOVE HERE
WATCH / SHARE “SHATTERED LOVE” HERE
EP RELEASE TOUR BEGINS MAY 30
Photo Credit : Heather Saitz // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, Absolute Treat, the new moniker of the Toronto-based, multi-hyphenate pop group formerly known as Dilettante, are releasing their new EP, Shattered Love, via Victory Pool Records. The EP marks a pivot point in the band’s journey, having fully shed the hazy, lo-fi trappings of their previous project and have since turned their attention to the dance floor. With these new songs the bandleaders – Natalie Panacci (vocals), Julia Wittmann (vocals; guitar) – are teasing out threads of inspiration from the intersecting points where disco, pop, rock, and slinky R&B meet.
In celebration of the release, Absolute Treat is sharing the new video for the EP’s title track. “Shattered Love” is the product of Julia’s song-a-day exercise in December 2022. As a hardcore Britpop fan, she said, “I want to write a Blur-inspired song.” She thought about playful, maybe sometimes dissonant melodies, songs like “Stereotypes” or “Charmless Man.” That’s how the main hook, melodies, and chord progressions for “Shattered Love” were born. From there, she wrote some filler nonsense lyrics (including what would ultimately become the opening line: “Everybody take a hit.”) Lyrically, the song was mostly inspired by Julia’s experience of getting dumped in the early stage of a romance."
BUY / STREAM SHATTERED LOVE HERE
WATCH / SHARE “SHATTERED LOVE” HERE
MORE ABOUT ABSOLUTE TREAT & SHATTERED LOVE
In 2022, they released their debut album, Dilettante, which UK publication Backseat Mafia described as having “indelible melodies and mountain high anthems." This established them as a versatile band that can play anything from moody ballads (“Blue”) to spangly uptempo bops (“Bonnie”). It also led to their inclusion in Exclaim! Magazine’s Class of 2023, opening slots for bands such as Born Ruffians and The Darcys, and performances at festivals such as Toronto Pride and River & Sky.
LISTEN / SHARE “MAIN STREET” HERE
Shattered Love is a collection of songs that distill the essence of some of pop music's finest writers and producers from the '70s and '80s. The album is replete with spot-the-influence moments, but never in a way that pops one out of the tight, concise listening experience Absolute Treat have constructed. It's all perfectly sublimated and stylishly executed.
“The Sun” opens up the EP with a surefooted anthem that uncannily recalls choice elements of late '70s funk/disco progenitors Chic; on which, co-leader Julia Wittmann's guitar playing shines throughout, but makes an especially strong initial impact on this tune. The vocals positively radiate; it's hard not to imagine hearing them amongst the spinning dapples of disco-ball reflections and sweaty bodies in a crowded club; with its cascading melody lines in the verses and singalong-worthy harmonies in the choruses, this opening track reads as something of a mission statement for Shattered Love. A dramatic dropout mid-song, a saxophone solo hits and grungy guitar riff slides in underneath, bringing the song home for a final round of that ridiculously catchy chorus.
LISTEN / SHARE “THE SUN” HERE
Title track, “Shattered Love” paints a luridly vivid portrait of the streets of Toronto while sounding like a long-lost Prince b-side with its mysterious synthesizers, chopping guitar work, and minimal, deeply funky rhythm section. Never staying in one place for long, the hooky chorus in this tune incorporates a more sultry vocal approach before Panacci belts out a raw, insistent refrain of the song's title.
Shattered Love closes with a lovely track called “Slow”, which may very well be the vocal showcase on the album. Shimmering with layers of cascading synth adornments both Wittmann and Panacci truly belting it out in the song's final moments. From here the tune gently winds down, and it'll be no surprise when you find yourself reaching for the “play” button again as soon as it's over.
Absolute Treat will take to the stage this weekend in Toronto and will celebrate the release of Shattered Love with tour dates beginning May 30. All dates are below
BUY / STREAM SHATTERED LOVE HERE
TOUR DATES
May 30 - Toronto ON - The Drake Underground (Album Release Celebration )
June 8 - St Catharines ON - Warehouse Concert Hall
July 3 - London ON - Palasad Social Bowl
July 4 - Guelph ON - Sonic Hall
July 10 - Hamilton ON - Mills Hardware
July 11 - Kitchener ON - Sunset Session
SHATTERED LOVE TRACKLIST
01 The Sun
02 Shattered Love
03 Main Street
04 The Door
05 Slow