Gogol Bordello is back with a lot of energy that can't be stopped. Their latest single, "Ignition," is the third taste of their upcoming ninth studio album, We Mean It, Man!, which will come out on February 13 through Eugene Hütz's Casa Gogol Records. The song has the band's signature post-punk grooves and a profoundly human story at its heart, just like they always do.
The first pulsing beat of "Ignition" makes you want to celebrate the bonds that last a lifetime. The song is based on Hütz's 2023 collaboration with Bernard Sumner. It has a lot of energy and intimate moments, like the electric tension of a friendship that has lasted for decades. Nick Launay and Adam Atom Greenspan wrote the song, which has a polished feel that fans of Gogol Bordello have come to love.
Elan Cole directed the music video for the song. It gives the song a visual heartbeat. The video, which stars Liev Schreiber, is a celebration of friendship on and off screen. It reminds me of Hütz's role in Schreiber's first directorial effort, Everything Is Illuminated, which came out in 2005. The two have a natural chemistry that fits with the song's theme of trust and friendship that lasts a lifetime. You don't see performance when you watch them interact, you see a real bond, the kind that makes someone get out of a ditch at 5 a.m.
Gogol Bordello isn't just putting out another single with "Ignition." They're also giving us a manifesto of loyalty, music, and heart. It's loud, festive, and very human, a reminder that friendship is the best fuel, even in the middle of punk chaos. Next month, We Mean It, Man! will have the same contagious energy, so fans shouldn't miss it.
Follow Gogol Bordello on Instagram