Marc Almond Announces New Album 'I'm Not Anyone' And Accompanying UK Tour Dates
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Nick Spanos
Marc Almond has announced a new album.
Known for his work with UK duo Soft Cell, the synth-pop pioneer will release 'I'm Not Anyone' on July 12, following up 2020's 'Chaos And A Dancing Star' and Soft Cell's 'Happiness Not Included' in 2022.
Pulling inspiration from a variety of different genres, including psych and prog-rock, folk, gospel and soul, the album features covers of songs by Blue Cheer, Don McLean, King Crimson and more, reworked with producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Stevens. Almond explained:
"I always approach curating an album of covers with a lot of joy as it means a year or so of listening to songs, old and new, making lists from which I add or subtract songs and in the process discover, or rediscover, some half-forgotten gems. Living now in Portugal, I've found the time to not only reflect on my life but to also rediscover my love for music and songs. A great song can never die and should always find a new life and audience.
"I finally reached a selection of songs that express where I am in my life today and how I feel about the world and my place in it. These aren’t particularly storytelling songs (though for me, lyrics always come first) but more than ever this time I've gone for how a song makes me feel and the emotional resonance it holds - reflective songs for an older artist, perhaps.
"I don’t change a song too much, take it too far away from why I like it. Too much emphasis is made on reinvention. I like to think that I’m bringing a song in a new light to my audience who might not have heard it before or haven’t considered it until they’ve heard me sing it. Then they may re-evaluate it.
"There is an underlying spiritual, esoteric feel to this album, a thread that goes through it - deeply elemental references, a nod to my interest in things Druid and Pagan and which reflects how many of us feel in this world which is going through changes, and not all good.
"I could go through the album song by song but that takes away the joy of how you may hear it, and to me what is important is the overall feel. Sometimes why I choose a song over another is not always even clear to me, it is just a feeling and something of the moment. A choice has to be settled on and the discipline of track limitation means sometimes I just have to go with what I feel on that day when I commit. I always hope the choices are right, but the album is what it finally is, and I live with it."
As a preview, Almond has shared a warm, sunny take on Bob Lind's 1965 folk track Elusive Butterfly. Press play below.
He'll support the record with a UK tour in September, during which he'll only perform cover songs. Tickets go on general sale at 9am next Tuesday (March 26).
He'll also tour as special guest for Jools Holland at concerts between late October and Christmas, including two performances at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 29 and 30. Tickets for those dates are already on sale.
'I’m Not Anyone' tracklist:
1. I'm The Light (originally by Blue Cheer)
2. Reflections Of My Life (Marmalade)
3. Gone With The Wind (Is My Love) (Rita & The Tiaras/Gloria Jones)
4. I Talk To The Wind (King Crimson)
5. Elusive Butterfly (Bob Lind)
6. I’m Not Anyone (Paul Anka / Sammy Davis Jr.)
7. Smokey Day (Colin Blunstone)
8. Trouble Of The World (Mahalia Jackson)
9. Look To Your Soul (Johnny Rivers)
10. Chain Lightning (Don McLean)
11. Lonely Looking Sky (Neil Diamond)
NEW // Singer-songwriter and '80s new wave icon @MarcAlmond has announced a string of UK shows for this September!
Sun September 08 2024 - LEEDS Grand Theatre
Mon September 09 2024 - LONDON Coliseum
Wed September 11 2024 - BRIGHTON Brighton Dome
Sat September 14 2024 - MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Sun September 15 2024 - GATESHEAD Glasshouse
Mon September 16 2024 - BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Wed September 18 2024 - BRISTOL Bristol Beacon
Sat September 21 2024 - EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Sun September 22 2024 - LIVERPOOL Floral Pavilion Theatre
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