Single Review / Video Premiere / Album Teaser
Dan O’Farrell & the Difference Engine
Asbestos Love
DL only (forthcoming album will be all formats)
Out now
The first taster from the fourth Dan O’Farrell & The Difference Engine album, ‘The Fish That Learned To Drown’ – released on 22 January 2026 on Gare Du Nord Records. An ironic song about trying to learn to love the consequences of climate change? Or just a play on the words Asbestos Gloves? Ged Babey asks Dan the man.
Whenever a band have a new album in the pipeline, it’s wise to pick ‘the best’ song to introduce it to the listening public. The most commercial, most topical, most immediate. The Difference Engine are no exception. So, as the hottest UK summer on record comes to an end I asked Mr O’Farrell about Asbestos Love…
We ended up with 51 songs to choose from for the album, some from those weird lock-down days (mostly ditched – suddenly felt ‘dated’)…I found ‘Asbestos Love’ in a file labelled something like ‘dumb new-wave tune – CAED’ – which I had no memory of writing. (Luckily I label my song demo files with the main verse chords – C – A – E – D, so I could play along…) It stuck in my head…and, when I tried it with the band, it really gelled.
Live, I love screaming the middle-8, channelling my inner Black Francis and frightening people in bars across the city.
Lyrically, it just seemed to sit – the word ‘summer’ just bends to the chords, so I used it 90 times. (Don’t exaggerate, it’s 11 times). I’d like to pretend it’s a well-considered response to climate change, but it’s more a primal, subconscious reaction to that feeling of being trapped in the heat, and wanting to be saved.
I like juxtaposed titles, and ‘Asbestos Love’ hit the mark…you need it but it kills you, kinda thing (see also, ‘Cyanide Desire’ on the album). I’ll claim the ‘glove’ wordplay as a subconscious win’ (good spot!)
I love the Wreckless Eric meets Billy Bragg chug of the guitar at the start, and the three-note door-bell chime (early Cure steal?) and the feedback bubbling underneath. It’s a great rock song from an artist where lyrical content and melodic musicianship are key.
It is my fave track on the forthcoming album, because its the most ‘rock’n’roll’ – i actually asked Dan if I could ‘remix’ it to make the feedback and guitar louder and heavier so it sounded like the Jesus & Mary Chain playing an REM song – he just humoured me and said ‘great idea’. (I’ve never mixed, let alone remixed anything in my life but it just seemed like a fun idea to ‘have a go’…)
I’ve written about Dan and the Engine and his pre-history since 2013 and he’s a friend and fellow LTW writer now, but he really is a quite brilliant songwriter and quietly charismatic performer who should be universally recognised as such.
The Fish That Learned To Drown, not out until January next year really is his most accomplished work – thanks to the band and production as well as his lyricism and voice.
You therefore have four months to catch-up on the back catalogue in readiness…
2017 – The eponymous debut album included the classic flagship singles Your Facebook Feed Is Not the World and Rosaline Wins.
2018 – These Dark Ages Are Hurting All The People That We Love had Death by 1000 Cuts as it’s introductory offer.
2020 – Richard Scarry Lied To Me has several potential hit singles drawn from it and still got little or no attention from the mainstream.
I predicted that the next album should be called Bring Me The Head of Lauren Laverne and open with a song called I Will Not Rest until Marc Riley is Hung With the Entrails of Steve Lamacq. Which Dan considered ‘a bit extreme’. I just want him to be more widely appreciated for the great songwriter that he is…. c’mon 6-Music… only Gideon Coe can save Dan O’Farrell from forever dwelling in obscurity …. or Southampton as we call it.
The song and album is:
Produced by Andy Lewis
with
Dan O’Farrell – Guitar, vocals
Rick Foot – Double-Bass, Vocals
Chris Walsh – Drums
Rufus Grig – keys
Video by Alex Dunlop
Full DOF&TDE back catalogue on Bandcamp
Album Launch 24/01/26 Heartbreakers, Southampton Tickets
Facebook – the band Facebook –solo
All words Ged Babey
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