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Primal Scream Will Shed ‘More Light’ With New Album in May

primal scream, more light

Scotrock lifers Primal Scream will return this May with their 10th studio album, titled More Light, according to DJ and producer David Holmes. Earlier today (January 11), Holmes wrote on his Facebook page, “the new primal scream album is sequenced and mastered…its called ‘more light’ and will be released in may…one love!” That’s it for solid details on the Screamadelica legends’ follow-up to 2008’s Beautiful Future — no info on an exact release date, number of tracks, or finalized song titles — but the NME reported back in October that Led Zeppelin leader Robert Plant contributed vocals for the upcoming record.

“I sang a bit on the Primals’ stuff because I think their references on looking back on the glorious past and the way they bring them into the contemporary world are fantastic,” said Plant, who previously played harmonica on Primal Scream’s “The Lord Is My Shotgun,” from 2002’s Evil Heat.

Clash notes that the name of the new LP may be a reference to the last words of German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but maybe FACT has it right and it’s a nod to J Mascis and the Fog’s 2000 album, also called More Light. Either way, Primal frontman Bobby Gillespie offered clear answers to Q back in September (via NME), when asked about More Light‘s sound and instrumentation: “It’s a rock’n’roll record, but modern rock’n’roll,” he said. “Pretty psychedelic rock, it’s kind of guitar-driven but we use guitars in an orchestral way, not in the normal way people make rock records. I think we do it in a more interesting way. We weave the guitars in with electronics and other acoustic instruments to make the core sound.” Gillespie added, “The songwriting has got better! Live we’re a guitar rock’n’roll band but when we make records… it would be boring if we just made guitar records, we’ve got our own way of doing things. It’s Primal Scream music.”

Last fall, the singer told BBC Radio that the group’s 10th full-length was finished mixing as early as July 2012, but the three-decade-plus act had to re-record one of the tracks. Gillespie also said that Holmes “brought out the best in Primal Scream, which is what a good producer should do.” In an interview with Mojo (via FACT), Gillespie said Holmes’ influence was “essential,” and explained that the producer was exposing the band to obscure German and French funk records.

More Light will also feature My Bloody Valentine bassist Debbie Googe, who replaced longtime member Gary “Mani” Mounfield, who has rejoined the reunited Stone Roses.