U.K. pop/rock trio Keane will release its sophomore album, “Under the Iron Sea,” June 12 internationally via Island and June 20 in North America via Interscope. The 12-track set will be led by the single “Is It Any Wonder?,” which finds keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley summoning an uncanny guitar-like sound from his piano by running it through effects pedals.
“Under the Iron Sea” is the follow-up to Keane’s left-field 2004 smash debut, “Hopes and Fears,” which has sold more than 855,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The single “Somewhere Only We Know” reached No. 11 on Billboard’s Adult Top 40 chart.
The new release is full of the soaring melodies and impassioned, high-register singing introduced on the debut. Highlights include the slow-building, string-tinged opener “Atlantic” and ultra-poppy single contenders like “Nothing in My Way” and “Crystal Ball.”
Keane has begun confirming summer festival appearances, including Germany’s Rock am Ring/Rock im Park in early June and the U.K.’s annual V Festival in mid-August.
Here is the track list for “Under the Iron Sea”:
“Atlantic”
“Is It Any Wonder?”
“Nothing in My Way”
“Leaving So Soon?”
“A Bad Dream”
“Hamburg Song”
“Put It Behind You”
“The Iron Sea”
“Crystal Ball”
“Try Again”
“Broken Toy”
“The Frog Prince”
