And finally! A release date, a new song, the art work that Thom and Stanley have been painting all winter - and a sense that we will get to share, at last, our new music in full.
I feel grateful that we managed, with Nigel’s help, to record these songs in a way they deserve. And the singles released so far have been liked - as far as I can tell - which makes me feel dangerously confident in the rest of the record. As the all-knowing algorithm has it, if you liked that, you’ll love this, right? Hope so. Aside from anything, the brass and strings players who helped out - I really can’t wait for you to hear all their work too.
So yes, we’re properly proud and excited for everyone to have the whole thing - but, it’s been a drawn out process so far, with so many single songs released. I can only apologise for our tentativeness. Patience is a virtue, but then, so are sobriety and humility - and they’re not happening either. Nor can we persuade Apple Music to stop greying-out the titles of the unreleased tracks (the teases!) - but, come May 13th, everything will be out there, instead of in here.
As we prepare to play this all live, a small part of me views the record as a way of getting people familiar with the songs first. This is short sighted, but as I type this, I can’t really think beyond the first chord of the first concert in Croatia because that’s where so much of the excitement is for me. Live concerts are short-sighted, short-lived things, and all the more vital because of it.
But really, the record still feels worth your time - both the time spent waiting, and the time we’re asking you to invest in hearing it - which is all I can hope for. I’m listening to it constantly, long after I should have had enough, so maybe that’s the right, long-sighted view of this. I hope you have the same experience.
Best wishes,
Jonny
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-3755106-1471107960-2677.jpeg.jpg)