André 3000 by Kai Regan
The return of André 3000 and tour news from Cat Power were among last week’s biggest headlines.
André 3000 released his first collection of music since Outkast’s 2006 album Idlewild last Friday, November 17th.
The news of New Blue Sun came in conjunction with an NPR Music interview, in which his reasons for making a long awaited return were outlined:
“I’m a writer, and not necessarily a pen and pad writer, but I construct and architect verses in a way. That’s what I’ve been doing all my life.”
The Smile will release their new album Wall Of Eyes on January 24th next year after sessions at Abbey Road when collaborations with Sam Petts-Davies and the London Contemporary Orchestra were resumed.
It’s Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner’s follow-up to A Light For Attracting Attention – one of our albums of 2022 – and is being previewed with a video for the title-track directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
The band have also announced a March 2024 European tour.
J Mascis has announced the release of What Do We Do Now on February 2nd next year.
The album is packed with guest stars, as is the video for its lead single Can’t Believe We’re Here. “When I’m writing for the band I’m always trying to think of doing things Lou and Murph would fit into,” he’s said.
“For myself, I’m thinking more about what I can do with just an acoustic guitar, even for the leads. Of course, this time, I added full drums and electric leads, although the rhythm parts are still all acoustic. Usually, I try to do the solo stuff more simply so I can play it by myself, but I really wanted to add the drums.”
Cat Power by Mario Sorrenti
Cat Power will take her recent …Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert album out on tour from the end of this year.
A run of US dates are due to start in Memphis on December 2nd and will resume on February 12th next year at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ.
Gigs in New York including Carnegie Hall follow, while a European trip is scheduled for April 2024 with visits to Sweden, Norway, Germany and France.
Belle And Sebastian have confirmed a new run of North American tour dates for 2024 after a planned trip this year was cancelled due to illness.
The Eastern in Atlanta will host opening night on April 23rd, while a New York gig at Paramount in Brooklyn is coming up on the first day of May.
Three shows are booked in Los Angeles later that month – two of which are at the Bellwether – and it’s up in the Pacific north-west for closing night at Seattle’s Moore Theatre.
In the wake of their pre-lockdown live return, The Zutons have confirmed the details of a brand new studio album.
The band were at Abbey Road with the not-inconsiderable talents of Nile Rodgers and Ian Broudie on production for the recording of The Big Decider, which has been set for release on April 26th.
“Working with Nile was just an amazing experience, he gave me a confidence that I’ve never felt before making a record,” Dave McCabe has said.
