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Jul 16, 2019 By Christopher Roberts One True Pairing

Tom Fleming was formerly a member British art-rockers Wild Beasts, who called it quits in 2018. He recently announced a new solo project, One True Pairing, and shared a video for its first song, also titled “One True Pairing” (it was one of our Songs of the Week). Now Fleming has announced his debut album as One True Pairing, also titled One True Pairing, and shared a video for its second single, “I’m Not Afraid.” One True Pairing is due out September 20 via Domino. Check out the Ewan Jones Morris-directed “I’m Not Afraid” video below, followed by the album’s tracklist and cover art.

Fleming wrote and played everything on the album and then got Ben Hillier (Blur, Elbow, Doves) on board for mixing and production duties. A press release says Fleming was inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Depeche Mode, and Swans.

Fleming had this to say about the album in a press release: “I wanted to write about the real world, I didn’t want it to be an artistic, poised, tasteful record, it’s neo-heartland rock. One True Pairing is a name taken from internet fan fiction, where you write the perfect relationship you always wished existed. The idea of Prince Charming and Helpless Princess living happily after is no fun at all.”

A press release says “One True Pairing is an album shaped by class frustration and self-despair and there is a continuation of the exploration of masculinity that made Wild Beasts so unique. As well as being deeply personal, OTP has a wider political resonance.”

Fleming elaborates, commenting on the United Kingdom: “This country is going through a terrible moment and if you listen to the art nobody seems to give a shit.”

Of the song “One True Pairing,” Fleming had this to say in a previous press release: “I wanted to write about the real world. This is a song about hope, about getting beaten down and getting up again, more wide-eyed and full of wonder than you ever were before. It’s about doing wrong and then seeing things for what they really are. It’s a love song, or as close as I’ll ever want to get to one. The name of the whole project is something of a savage joke, but this time I mean it 100% sincerely. Wear the scars proudly, wave ‘em in the faces of people who don’t, will never understand what they mean. One True Pairing, 2019, hope you enjoy it.”

In 2017 Wild Beasts announced their breakup in a typed up statement, signed by the band and posted to Instagram. That was followed by a final EP, Punk Drunk and Trembling, three farewell concerts in February 2018, and a final album, February 2018’s live in the studio release Last Night All My Dreams Came True (which featured new interpretations of songs from across their catalogue). Fleming’s former Wild Beasts bandmate Hayden Thorpe recently released his debut solo album, Diviner, in May, also via Domino.

Read our 2018 interview with Hayden Thorpe about the breakup of Wild Beasts and the band’s legacy.

On True Pairing Tracklist:

1. Zero Summer
2. I’m Not Afraid
3. One True Pairing
4. Weapons
5. Dawn at the Factory
6. Blank Walls
7. Reaper of Souls
8. Elite Companion
9. Alive in the Resplendent Flames
10. King of the Rats
11. Only God Can Judge Me

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