Carly Kazempoor in News

Mumford And Sons Announce New Album Johannesburg Featuring Baaba Maal For June 2016 Release

Mumford and Sons have just announced that their fourth album, Johannesburg, will be available June 17th. The album is a product of the group’s South African tour recording in the city of the same name, and features touring partners Baaba Maal, Beatenberg and The Very Best.

The album was recorded over two “all-day and all-night sessions” in Johannesburg as part of the band’s South African tour earlier this year, and features five new tracks. The first single, “There Will Be Time,” is available now and immediately hit #1 in South Africa upon release. The press release describes the track as “Tender but not shackled by any sense of restraint. It has that special inference of yearning that Mumford & Sons do so incredibly well, and when combining that with the musicianship of Baaba Maal’s glorious crew and his vocals which interweave mesmerizingly with that yearning thing, you’ve got something really quite otherworldly.” This is a perfect synopsis, as the track stands on its own and is unlike anything else heard on the radio today.

The band is also ecstatic about the collaborations on Johannesburg. They have described The Very Best as the ‘glue’ that holds the project together, with Marcus Mumford saying: “The whole thing came together because of Johan [Hugo, The Very Best] really – and actually they had acted like sonic trailblazers in a lot of ways – marrying afrobeat rhythms, Esau and Baaba’s voices and languages, over Western songwriting.” It was through The Very Best that Mumford and Sons met Baaba Maal, who was equally as inspirational to them. These artists, along with Beatenberg, collaborated with Mumford and Sons to create an exciting new project that sticks to the roots of South Africa while also displaying the same Mumford and Sons that people know and love.

Mumford and Sons are known for being eclectic within their music and personal lives, and Johannesburg is no exception. Since the release of their latest album, Wilder Mind, the group has been busy travelling the world with series of tour dates and music festivals. While some raised their eyebrows when Mumford and Sons announced a tour in South Africa, as it is not exactly a common destination for touring bands, it has never phased them. “Since day one, we have been proactive in touring places that most bands don’t often have the opportunity. It keeps us from monotony,” says bassist Ted Dwane, “I think the road could easily feel like groundhog-day but whether it’s the Scottish Highlands, India, or a tour on barge boats, our travels still feel fresh and exciting. “

Check out the full track listing for Johannesburg below and listen to the first single, “There Will Be Time,” available now.

Johannesburg Track Listing

01. There Will Be Time (with Baaba Maal)
02. Wona (with Baaba Maal, The Very Best and Beatenberg)
03. Fool You’ve Landed (with The Very Best and Beatenberg)
04. Ngamila (with Baaba Maal and The Very Best)
05. Si Tu Veux (with Baaba Maal and The Very Best)