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Johnny Marr has released his latest song, ‘It’s Time’, which finds the musician confronting “assholes with dodgy views”. Listen to it below.
The single provides another preview of Marr’s forthcoming fifth solo record, ‘The Age Of Everything’, which arrives on October 2. He has already introduced the project through ‘Spin’ and ‘Ophelia’.
On ‘It’s Time’, Marr addresses corruption and cynicism while holding on to a sense of hope. Discussing its meaning, he said: “‘It’s Time’ is my way of singing about some worldly issues but finding defiance in idealism.”
“I wanted a lyric that matched the exuberance of the music but is actually about resisting cynicism and corruption: ‘Everybody ain’t making it, change the weather and breaking it. Mobilise to know the truth. Open eyes to know the truth.’ I guess it’s about the assholes with dodgy views,” he added.
The accompanying video was captured earlier this year during the largest headline concert of Marr’s solo career. Filming took place at his sold out homecoming performance at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester. Watch it below.
‘The Age Of Everything’ follows Marr’s 2022 release ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1–4’. In its four star review, NME described that project as “a soulful record fuelled by fresh ideas”.
Marr also issued a concert album titled ‘Look Out Live!’ last year. The 22 song collection was recorded at London’s Eventim Apollo during his 2024 ‘Spirit Power’ tour.
More recently, Marr appeared on Gorillaz album ‘The Mountain’ and joined the group onstage in London last September. He also participated in the celebrity filled ‘Help(2)’ benefit album for War Child. In 2023, Marr put out a career spanning compilation, which included the previously unreleased song ‘Somewhere’.
Elsewhere, Morrissey and Marr recently contributed to a rare new seven inch pressing by The Smiths for an upcoming Rough Trade collection.
The famous independent London label will issue the second instalment of its newly manufactured classic singles series, ‘Rough Trade 45s: Volume 2’, on October 30. The collection will contain music from The Fall, Aztec Camera, Mazzy Star, Scritti Politti, Robert Wyatt and additional artists. Only 1,000 copies will be available when it arrives on October 30. Place an advance order here.
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Radio Free Alice have shared a new single featuring Water From Your Eyes‘ Rachel Brown – listen to ‘Big Ideas’ below.
The collaborative song is the latest preview of the Australian band and NME 100 alumni‘s debut studio album, ‘What’s In Between’, which is released on October 30 via Atlantic.¥
“From early on, we felt that a second vocal would work well with the song, a kind of call and response,” explained frontman Noah Learmonth of the team-up.
“We’ve loved Water From Your Eyes for years, and had gone to their show when they came to Melbourne. We felt like Rachel would be perfect; they have such an interesting, distinctive voice.”
In the contemplative track’s first verse, Learmonth sings: “Try not to go too berserk/ But she’s been sleeping with the guy from work/ At what point do you admit your life’s not going to plan one bit.”
Later, he tells the listener he’d “rather be stuck in hell than stuck in Melbourne with reports to sell” before Brown joins in and trades vocals: “Honey won’t you rescue me/ I got a barb in my eye/ I got a thorn in my side/ Don’t get any big ideas (Pick it up and pack it in)/ She only let you in to get your things/ (Pick it up and pack it in)...”
‘Big Ideas’ is accompanied by a ’90s-looking official music video, directed and edited by Owen Schatz. The song follows previous singles ‘Kick In The Shins’ and ‘Crying For You’.
Speaking to NME at Reading Festival this summer, Radio Free Alice discussed what to expect from their debut LP. “Looking back, I’ve always been a sucker for anything ‘coming of age’,” said Learmonth of the LP’s lyrics. “A lot of my favourite movies growing up were that. There is a theme of ‘dispossessed young person’, amongst others.”
Elsewhere in the chat, they recalled opening for Geese in Australia. “It was crazy to see Geese in person,” Learmonth told NME. “Cameron Winter and Geese have been on my phone incessantly, so to see him in person and be talking to him backstage was so strange, so topical. That was sick. It was amazing to share a stage with the most talked-about band in the world.”
Radio Free Alice are set to embark on a UK and European headline tour next month – find any remaining tickets here. See the full schedule below.
NOVEMBER
04 — Copenhagen, DK — Ideal Bar at Vega
06 — Berlin, DE — Frannz Club
07 — Hamburg, DE — Turmzimmer
08 — Cologne, DE — Helios37
10 — Amsterdam, NL — Tolhuistuin
11 — Brussels, BE — Botanique Rotonde
12 — Paris, FR — Point Ephémère
14 — Bristol, UK — Thekla
15 — Birmingham, UK — O2 Institute2
17 — London, UK — Electric Ballroom
18 — Leeds, UK — Brudenell Social Club
20 — Manchester, UK — Academy 2
21 — Glasgow, UK — Art School
22 — Belfast, UK — Ulster Sports Club
24 — Dublin, IE — Button Factory
27 – Barcelona, ES — Sidecar
29 – Paris, FR — Point Ephémère
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