Following the passing last week of founding member Peter Archer, esteemed Sydney band Crow today announce the release date for their first album in over 15 years, Hold Sway. The announcement has been accompanied by the release the album’s second single, “Skyline”, which was written and sung by Archer.

The album Hold Sway will be released on July 10 on Cheersquad Records & Tapes and is available for pre-order now. It will be available on limited edition orange 12″ vinyl, black 12″ vinyl and digitally.

The announcement is of course a bittersweet moment for the band, but it was Peter’s wish that things proceed as planned. The new single “Skyline”, which was written and sung by Peter, is particularly poignant. Drummer Andy Marks recounts: “The track glimmers with sun-drenched guitar, refracted by soaring vocals. Here is a version of what the song is about, as told to me by Archie over a beer during our recent Melb trip. Feeling lucky I asked him about it. It’s a beautiful story.

Skyline is a recollection of a casual job. Days were spent deep in the bush, marking trees for removal. The protagonist is happily disconnected from technology, yet creating waypoints that will eventually carve corridors for power-lines.

Skyline revels in being disconnected from unyielding change. Instead, it embraces millennial shifts that “glide” in their “easy… own time”.

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Peter Archer’s passing was announced by the band on Monday night:

Peter Archer, our long-time comrade, passed away on 14 May. Our deepest sympathy and love to his family and friends.

A founding CROW member, Peter’s indelible creativity was at once intuitive and adventurous.

From the lilting frailty of Paper Eyes, to the sun-drenched lyricism of Railhead, the roaring insistence of Never Said, or the stumbling splendour of Ravine, and so many other songs, the beauty, scope and originality of Peter’s work is undeniable.

“His humour, generosity and kindness imbued everything we shared. Being alongside him in “white knuckle” moments was hypnotic – think the searing dirge of Buddah Salute, or the rumbling coda of Rabbits. Without end.

Peter, we will carry the torch of your unique legacy, always. Buoyed by the one desire to see you again.

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The announcement of Hold Sway and the release of “You Can’t Turn Away” was accompanied by these words:

Feted by Juice magazine when they emerged in the early ’90s as “the best band in Australia since the Birthday Party”, Crow comprises songwriters Peter Fenton and Peter Archer on guitar and vocals, with bassist Jim Woff, and Andy Marks on drums.

The band’s angular, lyrical and volcanic soundscape has attracted widespread audience recognition and profound critical acclaim.

Crow’s debut release, My Kind of Pain (1992) engineered by the legendary Steve Albini, turned heads internationally, seeing Crow guesting for acts like Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, the Breeders, Pavement, Sebadoh, Nick Cave, You Am I, and the Verlaines.

The band’s creative verve deepened with subsequent releases, Li-lo-ing (1995) and Play with Love (1998). A hiatus was broken in 2010 with the long player, Arcane.

A 2024 reunion of the Li-lo-ing era line-up sparked a creative renewal, with the band simultaneously returning to its roots and navigating fresh terrain with a new recording.

The band’s upcoming release and live performances promise something new and something rediscovered, combined to create a soundtrack for the subconscious and ruminations on the unspoken.

Veering wildly from skewered rock and roll to soulful ballads, invite Crow into your ears and fly.