Modern Nature‘s The Heat Warps, set for release on Friday, captures a bold new chapter for Jack Cooper and his band. The Heat Warps features the core trio of Cooper (vocals, guitar), Jim Wallis (drums) and Jeff Tobias (bass guitar), plus new guitarist Tara Cunningham.

Where earlier records embraced abstraction and improvisation, this album is built on groove, clarity, and directness. Recorded live at Gizzard Studio with Cunningham’s guitar now weaving alongside Cooper’s, the dual-guitar interplay anchors the record in taut rhythms without sacrificing Modern Nature’s reflective depth.

“I’ve always been drawn to bands where two guitarists work as a unit to move around and colour the rhythm section,” explains Cooper. “I’d been listening to the demos Television did with Brian Eno in the day and then that night I played with Tara for the first time at an improvised music show. We have a very similar approach to the guitar and that extends to the way we sing, so it gives the music an interesting balance.”

Lead single ‘Pharaoh’ sets the tone: a hypnotic groove recalling Can, yet lyrically meditating on inspiration and authority. Its message, live a life that uplifts without harm, feels both timeless and urgent. Meanwhile, ‘Alpenglow’ reveals the band’s more melodic side, shimmering with optimism while retaining an undercurrent of mystery. Together, these tracks embody the band’s newfound balance of accessibility and weight.

Thematically, The Heat Warps confronts contemporary crises, ranging from environmental destruction to misinformation-fueled unrest, while offering beauty and resilience. It’s Modern Nature’s most focused and powerful statement yet, music for navigating turbulent times with grace, rhythm, and hope.