Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate have announced their 9th studio album “Parallel Lives” set for release on September 04, 2026. It is currently on pre-order on Bandcamp. People who pre-order will get one track immediately, and have the option of being listed in the booklet as a pre-order supporter.
Stream the official preview video for “Parallel Lives” via the YouTube player below:
The album was written at around the same time that I was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, progressive neurodegenerative retinal disease. The psychological impact of this seems to have influenced the song-writing. Although we didn’t originally intend the songs to be thematically linked, in retrospect, many of the songs explore issues relating to the disconnection between different identities within ourselves, and between each other. Mental health related issues are a recurrent theme. Several songs are sung from the perspective of characters who are experiencing situations that undermine their sense of self-identity. Some of the tracks are more directly personal in perspective. Others were influenced by stories that relate to the themes of the album.
Two of the songs were inspired by Philip K Dick novels. “Smile, Smile, Smile” was inspired by the novel “Flow My Tears The Policeman Said,” in which the protagonist, formerly one of the most famous people on the planet, wakes up in a world where they are unknown. As an undocumented person they are at risk of being incarcerated in a forced labour camp.
“The Mandatory Prize” is based on a PKD story in which the protagonist finds they have won a lottery they didn’t enter, and the prize is mandatory. It is a scholarship to a military college, which comes with obligatory conscription.
“Eversion” was inspired by Alastair Reynolds’ novel of the same name. The story is about a surgeon who finds themselves in similar situations in different historical periods. The surgeon has to come to terms with his identity being different to how he saw himself. All three of these superficially very different stories explore issues relating to someone struggling to come to terms with a changing sense of themselves and their role in life.
The title track is a more stripped back song about how we seem to find ourselves initially connected, then seeming to drift apart until we become like parallel lines, unable to connect. Neither side may have wanted this, but we seem unable to change course.
The album ends with the most hopeful song on the album. Although often our albums deal with quite dark themes, we try to end with something moderately positive. The song is from the perspective of someone trying to support someone, or perhaps themselves, who is struggling with depression. It is easy to judge others from the outside, without knowing what is going on inside. So many problems are invisible. Sometimes just managing to hold on from day to day is in itself an achievement worth celebrating.
As usual with our albums, there is a mix tracks with vocals and instrumentals.
Pre-Order “Parallel Lives” on Bandcamp: https://hatsoffgentlemen.bandcamp.com/album/parallel-lives
Tracklist:
01. My Blistering Mind
02. The Mandatory Prize
03. Never Really Felt Like Home
04. Smile, Smile, Smile
05. Intermission
06. Parallel Lives
07. Eversion
08. Pretty Blue Fox
09. Just Another Thing
10. Dropping The Mask
11. Just Hold On (Pts 1 & 2)
12. My Blistering Mind (radio edit) 03:42
13. The Mandatory Prize (radio edit)
Credits:
All tracks written and performed by Malcolm Galloway and Mark Gatland, with Kathryn Thomas (flute, bass flute, piccolo track 3; vocals track 6; flute track 7). Track 3 by Malcolm Galloway, Mark Gatland, Kathryn Thomas.