Escalate is the debut studio album by Scottish band Vlure. It was released on 26 September 2025 via Music for Nations in LP, CD and digital formats.
Background The album was produced by Conor Goldie of the band, together with Manni Dee. "Feels Like Heaven" was released as a single on 4 June 2025, alongside a music video directed by Paris Seawell. It was followed by the second single, "Between Dreams", on 9 September 2025.
Reception
In a four-star review for DIY, Finlay Holden remarked, "Across 13 tracks, the record's pulse rises, falls, and distorts, occasionally testing its own stamina but never losing focus." Jake Hawkes, writing for Dork, noted, "On Escalate, they've turned up, absolutely flattened any expectations and proceeded to throw a party in the wreckage." Assigning the album a five-star score, Rishi Shah of NME described it as "an inspiring, brutally honest album that matches the lofty standards to which Vlure hold themselves."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal.
Vlure Conor Goldie – production (tracks 1–11, 13); programming, synthesizer (1–10, 13); drum machine (1–6), guitar (1–5, 7, 8, 10–12), vocals (1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 13), piano (1, 4, 5, 8, 10), arrangement (6, 9, 10, 13); additional studio production, keyboards (6) Niall Goldie – bass guitar (1–5, 7, 8, 10, 12), additional production (1), synthesizer (2, 3, 6); production, drum machine, programming (2, 6); additional studio production, arrangement, keyboards (6); piano (10) Hamish Hutcheson – vocals (1–5, 7, 8, 10–12) Carlo Frederik Kriekaard – drums (1, 3–5, 7–9, 11, 12), additional production (1, 2, 7); production, drum machine, programming, synthesizer (3, 11, 12); background vocals (12) Alex Pearson – background vocals (1, 3–5, 10, 11), vocals (2), synthesizer (3), theremin (12)
Additional contributors Manni Dee – production (1–5, 7, 8, 10, 11), programming (3), additional production (6) James Rand – mixing Matt Colton – mastering Taylor Brode – additional studio production Paul McInllay – additional engineering (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10–12) Psweatpants – vocals (2) Olivia McLean – cello (6, 9, 10) Gaïa Jeannot – vocals (9) Bobby Gillespie – vocals (13)
Charts + Chart performance for Escalate Chart (2025) Peakposition UK Physical Albums (OCC) 100
References