Only one month after the release of Young Guv‘s (aka songwriter Ben Cook) latest masterpiece, GUV III, he has returned to announce its sequel, GUV IV, due out June 24th from Run For Cover Records and Hand Drawn Dracula (Canada). The announcement arrives alongside the release of the project’s lead single, “Change Your Mind,” which finds Cook teaming with frequent collaborator James Matthew VII for a blend of hazy hooks, pedal steel guitar, and a nearly psychedelic mood that transports the listen to the New Mexican desert where it was written. Listen to the new track now below.
Where GUV III encapsulates Cook’s most instantly accessible guitar pop songwriting, GUV IV represents the most sonically adventurous side of Young Guv. Cook has an unparalleled ability to write perfect power pop but GUV IV highlights his expertise with the many other sounds and styles that have dotted Young Guv’s expansive catalog over the years. The record effortlessly moves between hazy, Madchester-inspired rave ups, twangy California jangle, and even homemade sophisti-pop–while always retaining Cook’s undeniable melodies.