Prepare to be transported. Soul-pop auteurs Young Gun Silver Fox — the transatlantic duo of UK soul powerhouse Andy Platts (Mamas Gun) and Kansas-born groove wizard Shawn Lee (Ping Pong Orchestra) — are back with Pleasure, their highly anticipated fifth album, and first release with Blue Élan, out today, May 2, 2025.
Long hailed as modern masters of West Coast-inspired pop-soul, Young Gun Silver Fox made their name conjuring the sun-drenched sounds of the ’70s while infusing each release with forward-thinking finesse. With Pleasure, the pair take that mission even further — writing and recording much of the album together in-person for the first time, crafting ten tightly grooving tracks that are as fresh as they are familiar.
“We have a sound and language that we’ve cultivated as a band, but we still need to find ways to move forward and do something we haven’t done before,” says Shawn. That sense of evolution is evident throughout Pleasure, beginning with the funkified first single, “Stevie & Sly”, a joyous homage to legends Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone that sprang to life from an impromptu jam at Andy’s Norfolk-based studio, The Prairie.
Follow-up single “Late Night Last Train” showcases the duo’s knack for mood and melody, with Andy’s ethereal vocal and Shawn’s dreamy guitar lines creating a nocturnal reverie that lives up to its name. Third single “Born To Dream” dips into a retro doo-wop soul palette, drawing comparisons to Hall & Oates and offering an anthem for idealists with its soaring chorus: “The future’s in your hands / Seize it if you dare.”
Elsewhere, the album plays like a love letter to their wide-ranging influences. From the Earth, Wind & Fire-inspired funk of “Holding Back the Fire” to the Steely Dan sophistication of “Put Up Your Dukes” and “The Greatest Loser”, Pleasurewalks the fine line between homage and originality with effortless flair. On “Stealing Time,” they channel Marvin Gaye’s introspective soul, while “One Horse Race” nods to the golden harmonies of the Beach Boys.
Since their 2015 debut West End Coast, through AM Waves (2018), Canyons(2020), and Ticket to Shangri-La (2022), Young Gun Silver Fox have built a loyal following in the UK and Europe and are quickly expanding their U.S. audience — a growth spurt punctuated by their biggest American tour yet in 2024, supporting Black Pumas and earning fans like Hans Zimmer and Jeff Lynne along the way.
They’ve also been tapped as hitmakers behind the scenes, co-writing the title track for Take That’s chart-topping album This Life — further proof that their transatlantic sound has global appeal.
For Andy and Shawn, Pleasureis more than just an album title — it’s a state of mind. “I always come back to Young Gun Silver Fox like taking a drive to the coast,” says Andy. “I just smell the ocean and the air and it’s like, ‘Wicked, I’m back here again.’ And I can just kick back and enjoy it.”
With Pleasure, it’s our turn to kick back — and turn it up.