Noel Gallagher by Matt Crockett
Our round-up of the past week’s biggest stories includes new album announcements from Noel Gallagher and Arlo Parks.
Noel Gallagher has confirmed the details of his fourth solo album Council Skies.
The follow-up to 2017’s Mercury-nominated Who Built The Moon? is taking a step away from the approach of that record – ‘going back to the beginning’, according to the Oasis songwriter.
“Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be…that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s,” he’s said.
Madonna will tour North America and Europe later this year in celebration of four decades of pop superstardom.
The Celebration Tour is to begin in Vancouver on July 15th, with two nights at Madison Square Garden in New York booked for August 23rd and 24th.
The 02 in London will start the European leg on October 14th ahead of closing night at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on December 1st.
The death of veteran songwriter David Crosby has been confirmed after what his family have described in a statement as a ‘long illness’.
“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” it reads. “He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django.”
“Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music.”
Arlo Parks by Alexandra Waespi
Arlo Parks has unveiled her new album My Soft Machine and its lead single Weightless – a track surrounding, ‘the painful experience of caring deeply about someone who only gives you tiny breadcrumbs of affection’.
“It’s about suddenly realising that a person has dulled your edges and embarking on the slow journey back to being a brighter version of yourself,” Parks added.
The LP is due out on May 26th, described by Parks as, ‘my life through my lens, through my body – the mid 20s anxiety, the substance abuse of friends around me, the viscera of being in love for the first time’.
The National have confirmed the details of their new album First Two Pages Of Frankenstein.
Produced by the band at Long Pond Studios in New York, it’ll be released on April 28th and has guest appearances from Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens.
First Two Pages Of Frankenstein was completed after a period of creative block for Matt Berninger but one which, according Bryce Dessner, ultimately resulted in them approaching, ‘everything from a different angle, and because of that we arrived at what feels like a new era for the band’.
Sleaford Mods have set their new album UK GRIM for release on March 10th.
“Maybe we are proud of the country,” Jason Williamson said. “Maybe we are proud to be English.”
“Maybe I’m proud of the horrible grey streets and the shit weather and the stupid fashions I find myself investing in. It’s just that the English we’re proud of being is absolutely nothing like the English the authorities want to try and promote.”
