by Phil Scarisbrick
Manic Street Preachers featuring The Anchoress – Dylan and Caitlin
Following on from recent single International Blue, the Manics return with a second release from their upcoming album, Resistance Is Futile. Dylan and Caitlin recounts the tumultuous relationship between Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his wife Caitlin. In the past, the Manics have released some great duets, including Little Baby Nothing with porn actress Traci Lords, and 2007’s Your Love Alone Is Not Enough with The Cardigans’ lead singer Nina Persson. Here, James Dylan Bradfield takes on the role of Thomas while Catherine Davies (AKA The Anchoress) takes on the role of Caitlin.
Following recent anniversary tours for their seminal 90’s albums The Holy Bible and Everything Must Go, it is great to have the Manics back releasing new music. Resistance Is Futile comes out on Columbia Records on 13th April.
Eels – Premonition
Gearing up for the release of new record, The Deconstruction, Mr. E has this week unveiled a third track from his 17th studio album. Following on from the record’s title track and Today Is The Day, Premonition is a haunting acoustic track with real emotional power.
The Deconstruction is released on 6th April with Eels touring the UK in the summer.
Willie Nelson – Me and You
84 year-old country musician Willie Nelson has announced that he will be releasing a new album of original material called Last Man Standing in April. Following on from the release of the record’s title track, he has released this second song. Me And You is an uptempo rambler about Nelson feeling alienated from old pals and realising he can’t sit on the fence anymore. Though he is clearly referring to important issues, the track is vague enough to not directly be referring to politics.
Last Man Standing is released on 27th April.
Ari Roar – Calm Down
After recently announcing the release of his debut album, Texan singer-songwriter has unveiled the title track as a new single. The 98-second tune gives our first taste of the off-piste musical arrangements that make this artist and exciting prospect.
The accompanying video features him in various uncomfortable positions including with jelly and a snake. He explained “The corn snake that we used, Achilles belongs to my girlfriend. I had never held her (the snake) before so I was a little nervous about it but she turned out super sweet. The jello was really cold and sticky.”
Calm Down is out on 25th May through Bella Union
The Damned – Look Left & Devil in Disguise
Earlier in the year, seminal punk rockers The Damned announced their first new album in a decade. The crowdfunded Evil Spirits has been produced long time David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti. This week they have put out another two songs from the project, Look Left and Devil in Disguise.
Both songs have been written by the group’s drummer, Pinch, who joined the in 1999.
Evil Spirits is released on 13the April via Search and Destroy/Spinefarm.
Tame Impala & ZHU – My Life
Australian psych-pop enthusiasts, Tame Impala, have teamed up with Chinese-American electronic producer ZHU for this new track: My Life. It is unknown whether this track is a one-off or as part of a larger project, but it has been rumoured that frontman Kevin Parker has been working Mark Ronson and SZA on three new songs.
It is now three years since last album Currents, which was a huge global success for the group. With the announcement of several new live dates this year, fans will be hoping a new record is not far behind.
