The Good, The Bad & The Queen have given their new single its first play on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6Music show.
Picked first is the title-track of the upcoming Merrie Land album, due on November 16th as the first record from the collective of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong since the self-titled effort of 2007.
According to The Scotsmen, it is a ‘reluctant goodbye letter to the European Union’, while Albarn has told the paper’s music critic Fiona Shepherd that it is ‘an emotional response to something that none of us in the band understand, but I think the reason why it works is because it’s not too specific’. “Keeping an open mind and not becoming too insular is really important for all of us.”
Merrie Land got its first play on the same show on which Albarn spoke of his feeling of pride for the album during an impromptu interview last month when he presented the DJ with a birthday cake to celebrate his 25th anniversary at the BBC.
Tour dates:
December
1 – The North Pier, Blackpool
2 – SWG3, Glasgow
4,5,6 – Hackney Arts Centre, London