Supergroup The Good, The Bad and the Queen will be releasing their first new project in over a decade, entitled “Merrie Land,” that is currently scheduled for release on November 16. This announcement was made on a couple of social media posts, that were created by third party Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The group is comprised of Damon Albarn, The Clash’s Paul Simonon, The Verve’s Simon Tong and Fela Kuti and the Africa ’70 drummer Tony Allen. Albarn announced that the album was “sort of” finished during the spring, adding that the album would be released before the end of the year.
“We’re playing it back at the moment downstairs,” he told Lowe. “So, yeah I think [is finished]. So anyways, it’s been a really exciting time. It’s been a fantastic year so far,” Albarn explained in an interview with Mojo.”Been in South Africa, did a album with amazing artists and then did The Now Now and then The Good, the Bad & the Queen so it’s a lot of music coming out, so there’s a lot of music coming out. I hope [I’ve] sort of been good with my editing otherwise everyone is going to be sick of what I do.”
Legendary David Bowie producer Tony Visconti spoke about the album in an interview with the Irish Times last December. He announced that it was “an ode to the north of England, bizarely,” before adding that “It’s sort of set in Blackpool, between Starr Gate and [historic pub] Uncle Tom’s Cabin, if you want to be geographically precise.”
“We’re about two thirds of the way through and taking a break, as Damon is off on a Gorillaz tour, but we will resume in April and it will be probably be out before next Christmas,” Visconti revealed in an interview with the Irish Times. “It’s a great album and I think people will be very impressed with it.”
Albarn has been busy touring for the past year touring with his band The Gorillaz, in addition to various other music projects. He stated that he will be releasing yet another Gorillaz project this year, after The Good The Bad and The Queen’s reunion occurs.
One of his frequent collaborators includes Allen, who worked with the famous Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, as part of his backing band the Africa 70. Allen has been involved with Albarn in the groups Fresh Touch and Rocketjuice and the Moon.
Simonon gained fame as the acclaimed bassist for influential punk band, and first wave garage rock pioneers The Clash, during the late ’70s and ’80s. Albarn, along with Chrissie Hynde and Noel Gallagher were present at Simonon’s 60th birthday party.
Since leaving The Verve in 1999, guitarist and keyboardist Tong has been working with groups such as Erland and The Carnival along with Transmission. From 2002 to 2010 he was a member of Albarn projects Blur and The Gorillaz.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
UPDATE (10/23): The official cover art for the album has been released. Merrie Land will be released on CD, vinyl and as a limited edition green vinyl. In addition an official track listing has also been released
Merrie Land Tracklisting:
- Merrie Land
- Gun to the Head
- Nineteen Seventeen
- The Great Fire
- Lady Boston
- Drifters & Trawlers
- The Truce of Twilight
- Ribbons
- The Last Man to Leave
- The Poison Tree
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