The English post-punk band Gang of Four has just announced that their ninth-studio album Happy Now will be set for release on March 1st under the PledgeMusic record label. This album will mark the 40th anniversary since their highly-acclaimed debut 1979 album Entertainment!
In a press release for the album, founding member Andy Gill said, “Happiness is always an odd one; so difficult to pin down. Our personal lives are always a mixture – sad things, tragedy joy.” He continued on by saying, “When we were younger we thought things would gradually get better: the world would be less sexist, less racist, progress would be made and now we know that history isn’t linear, it’s very capable of U-turns.”
And the UK-based band has always been able to recognize social and political climates through their music. In the wake of the United States and Western Europe being dominated by far-right politics and political leaders, the band has acknowledged this in an EP released earlier this year, entitled Complicit, which features a photo of Ivanka Trump on the front cover.
One track of the EP was directly called “Ivanka (Things You Can’t Have),” was influenced by quotes from Ivanka about herself and observations made about her father. Gill mentioned previously that the song was driven by her commentary about the first waves of the administration. “It was fascinating to get kind of explanation or justification from the daughter who had already been given an official position within the White House.” In another track off the EP called “Lucky,” Gill was inspired by a debate about the stock market and began to think about how luck is limited. Even mentioning, “America’s demented ringmaster-clown claims to have bestowed fortune on the markets. He believes himself the master of luck.”
The questions that bears being asked is if the band will expand on these themes from their EP in their upcoming album. In the tracklist, the song “Lucky” has been listed as a bonus track, but “Ivanka (Things You Can’t Have)” did not make it. Yet another track with Ivanka’s name on it is set to be heard on the tracklist called “Ivanka – My Name’s On It.”
Upon announcement of the album, the band has released tour dates for a month-long U.S. tour in February.
The band has also released dates for a month-long U.S. tour in promotion of the new album in February. The band will start travel across cities like San Diego, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Detroit, and ending in New York City. Tour dates and tickets are available on Bandsintown, and on Songkick.
The new album is also available for preorder.
Check out the Happy for Now tracklist and future tour dates below.
Happy for Now Tracklist:
- Toreador
- Alpha Male
- One True Friend
- Ivanka – My Name’s On It
- Don’t Ask Me
- Change the Locks
- I’m a Liar
- White Lies
- Paper Thin
- Lucky (Bonus Track)
Happy for Now Tour Dates:
02/04 – Tustin, CA – Marty’s On Newport
02/05 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
02/06 – West Hollywood, CA – Roxy Theatre
02/08 – Fresno, CA – Strummer’s
02/09 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
02/11- Denver, CO – Global Hall
02/12 – Omaha, NE – Slow Down
02/13 – Evanston, IL – Space
02/14 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
02/16 – Detroit, MI – El Club
02/17 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafeé
02/19 – Somerville, MA – Once Ballroom
02/20 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
02/21 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
02/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
02/23 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
02/24 – Woodstock, NY – The Colony
02/25 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade NYC
Photo Credit: Boston Lynn Schultz
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