Matthew Field talks new album The Great Fire of BEATENBERG (single Wheelbarrow's already out!)

SA band Beatenberg are ready to drop their first album in five years - The Great Fire of Beatenberg is due for release on 5 April.

The Kfm Top 40 gives the single 'Wheelbarrow' its first radio spin, as Carl Wastie catches up with Matthew Field in studio.

The Beatenberg frontman has been based mainly in London for the past two years and the title of the new album has a link to the city, although that's just one of its many references.

"I like the sense that people use a fire emoji... It's like an interesting juxtaposition between that usage and then the idea of the Great Fire of London... I don't know much about that history, but I'm living there now and it does feel like the world is kind of on fire."

Matthew Field, Beatenberg

At the same time, the concept of fire also has some positive connotations as something transformative and warm, Field says.

"So yes, the title has got a range of meanings, positive and negative alike. I always like titles to do many different things, so it's multi-faceted."

Matthew Field, Beatenberg

The naming of single drop 'Wheelbarrow' is also not straightforward.

This song title is different from others where the image was usually the central idea, Field says.

"It started off being a fun, carefree kind of love song, and because it felt like it might get a little a bit silly I wanted to make it even more silly."

"I was trying to undercut the feeling of the 'lovey' thing that was going on by the wheelbarrow, and make it a little bit absurd and amusing."

Matthew Field, Beatenberg