{"id":167014,"date":"2025-06-08T07:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T07:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/167014\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T07:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T07:18:09","slug":"listen-to-heavenlys-first-new-song-in-29-years-portland-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/167014\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen to Heavenly’s first new song in 29 years, ‘Portland Town’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heavenly<\/a> have returned with \u2018Portland Town\u2019, the first new song they have released in 29 years \u2013 listen to it below.<\/p>\n

The cult Oxford indie band, who describe themselves as \u201criot twee\u201d, released four studio albums in the 1990s, the last of which was 1996\u2019s \u2018Operation Heavenly\u2019. They disbanded, however, after drummer Matthew Fletcher took his own life shortly before that record\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

They did reunite in 2023 for a show at Bush Hall in London<\/a> and went on to play a number of shows together later that year, with Death In Vegas\u2019 Ian Button filling in for Fletcher.<\/p>\n

Now, they have released their first new music since \u2018Operation Heavenly\u2019, in the form of the prickly, infectious single \u2018Portland Town\u2019, which sees singer Amelia Fletcher sing: \u201cI\u2019ve never been brave, I\u2019ve never been tough \/ But sometimes you have to say, that\u2019s enough\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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They have also shared the track\u2019s B-side \u2018Someone Who Cares\u2019, a more reflective, introspective tune \u2013 check that out below. The tracks are out now on a 7\u201d released by Skep Wax Records and you can find it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Heavenly will play a show at London\u2019s Islington Assembly Hall on July 19 \u2013 find tickets for the show here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Fletcher siblings, guitarist Peter Momtchiloff and bassist Robert Pursey were all previously members of the C86 band Talulah Gosh.<\/p>\n

After Matthew Fletcher\u2019s passing, the members of Heavenly decided to retire the band\u2019s name, but continued under the name Marine Research for the 1999 album \u2018Sounds From The Gulf Stream\u2019.<\/p>\n

They later played together in the band Tender Trap, releasing four further albums, and Amelia Fletcher and Pursey are also in the bands The Catenary Wires and Swansea Sound.<\/p>\n

Upon their return in 2022, they announced reissues all four of their studio albums<\/a>, beginning with 1991\u2019s \u2018Heavenly vs. Satan\u2019.<\/p>\n