Primal Scream have announced details of ‘Come Ahead’ – their first new album in eight years. Check out the new single ‘Love Insurrection’ below.
Announced today (July 17), the new project will mark the band’s 12th studio album and first full-length LP since 2016’s ‘Chaosmosis’. It’ll contain 11 new tracks, and is set to see songwriter, vocalist and frontman Bobby Gillespie deliver some of his most personal and emotionally-open work of his career.
The writing process began back in 2022, and came during a time when Gillespie was unsure if he would make another Primal Scream album again. According to a press release, the entire LP began with the lyrics, and marked the first time in a long while where the words came ahead of the music.
“The story came first. Bobby wrote alone, using an acoustic guitar. Ideas flowed fast, in long bursts of inspiration,” it read. “This process, in tandem with encouragement from producer David Holmes, provided a new way in. Working with Holmes and Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes, the Come Ahead sessions were completed between Belfast, London and Los Angeles.”
To celebrate the album announcement, the band have today shared the lead single ‘Love Insurrection’. Comprised of deep, groove-laden basslines and funk-inspired guitars, the single has a cosmic undertone, and has lyrics that serve as both a warning and a way of finding hope in uncertain times. Check it out below.
“I’m very excited about this album in a way that you would be making your first record. If there was an overall theme to ‘Come Ahead’ it might be one of conflict, whether inner or outer,” said Gillespie of the new LP.
“There is also a thread of compassion running through the album. The title is a Glaswegian term. If someone threatens to fight you, you say, ‘Come ahead!’ It’s redolent of the indomitable spirit of the Glaswegian, and the album itself shares that aggressive attitude and confidence. They have a word for this up there, gallus. ‘Come Ahead’ is quite a cheeky title too.”
The artwork to the album was created using a photograph of the frontman’s late father, Robert Gillespie Senior, taken by Turner Prize-nominated artist Jim Lambie. It was chosen as he remains deeply respected for his lifelong commitment to campaigning for social justice, and themes of class run through ‘Come Ahead’.
“There is a message of hope in the record,” Gillespie said. “But it’s tempered with an acceptance of the worst side of human nature.”
The album will arrive on November 8 via BMG and is available for pre-order here. It’ll be offered in double vinyl and CD formats, and a limited mirrorboard gatefold double silver vinyl will be on sale at HMV and indie stores. A limited mirrorboard gatefold double red vinyl and an exclusive t-shirt are also available on the official album store. Find the artwork and tracklist below.
The ‘Come Ahead’ tracklist is:
1. ‘Ready To Go Home’
2. ‘Love Insurrection’
3. ‘Heal Yourself’
4. ‘Innocent Money’
5. ‘Melancholy Man’
6. ‘Love Ain’t Enough’
7. ‘Circus Of Life’
8. ‘False Flags’
9. ‘Deep Dark Waters’
10. ‘The Centre Cannot Hold’
11. ‘Settler’s Blues’
News of the new album comes as Primal Scream are gearing up to perform their first live shows of 2024. These will kick off in October when they act as special guests for Alice Cooper at the rocker’s forthcoming shows across the UK.
Gillespie and co. will also play a huge festival slot at Corona Capital in Mexico City, and more live activity is set to be announced shortly. Visit here for remaining tickets to upcoming shows.
While their live shows won’t be kicking off until later this year, back in April, Gillespie did appear onstage with Eric Cantona to play a song the ex-footballer penned for Palestinians.
The pair joined forces on vocals at a concert at King’s Place in London for the track ‘Give Us A Ticket’. It came after both Cantona and Gillespie campaigned for Palestinians with the former previously joining The Libertines and Patti Smith on stage at a benefit concert for Palestine.
He also teamed up with Primal Scream in 2022 to promote a “Palestinadelica” shirt, the title of which is a play on the group’s third album ‘Screamadelica‘ (1991), by sharing an Instagram image of him posing in the shirt.
Before then, the frontman joined Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes on stage in London in February to perform their 2021 collaboration ‘Original Sin’.