Come Ahead is Primal Scream’s 12th full length record and first new music since 2016’s Chaosmosis. 11 new songs that find the group’s principal songwriter, vocalist and frontman Bobby Gillespie preparing to release some of the most personal songwriting of his band’s career.
Bobby Gillespie said:
“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. 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’s quite a cheeky title too.”
Out today, new single ‘Love Insurrection’ finds Primal Scream charged with cosmic energy. Deep bass and funk guitars collide as flutes and strings transcend whilst Bobby Gillespie lays down the truth. This is a warning song. A song of hope. We’re living in a dangerous time, and we must come together. We’re lost and we need direction. We need a Love Insurrection. Listen here.
The songwriting process for Come Ahead began in 2022. At which point Bobby Gillespie had no idea if he would make another Primal Scream album again. For the first time in a long time, the lyrics came before the music. The story came first. Bobby wrote alone, using an acoustic guitar. Ideas flowed fast, in long bursts of inspiration. 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.
The album artwork was created using a photograph of Bobby’s late father, Robert Gillespie Senior, by Turner Prize nominated artist Jim Lambie. Bobby’s father 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,” says Bobby Gillespie “but it’s tempered with an acceptance of the worst side of human nature.”
The time that’s elapsed since Primal Scream’s previous album has seen Bobby Gillespie at his most prolific. Shapeshifting between some of the most celebrated projects of his career whilst steadily stockpiling the songs that would become Come Ahead. His 2021 memoir Tenement Kid was selected as Rough Trade’s Book of the Year, and won the NME Award for Best Music Book. The band’s era-defining Screamadelica album celebrated its 30th anniversary with huge sold out gigs across the UK, including London’s Alexandra Palace. Gillespie teamed with Paul Weller writing lyrics for ‘Soul Wandering’, the first single from his latest album 66, and collaborated with Jehnny Beth in Paris writing and recording an entire album of duets titled Utopian Ashes. Bobby also collaborated with acid house duo Paranoid London, singing on their new song ‘People (Ah Yeah)’, and composed his first movie soundtrack for the 2023 cinematic release Five Hectareswith French filmmaker Émilie Deleuze. This myriad of new creative projects provided the vital space for Come Aheadto take shape.
The album is released physically on double vinyl and CD with a limited mirrorboard gatefold double silver vinyl available at HMV and indie stores, plus a limited mirrorboard gatefold double red vinyl and an exclusive t-shirt available on the official album store here.
In October Primal Scream will perform their first live shows of 2024 as special guests to Alice Cooper at a series of gigs across the UK including Glasgow’s Ovo Hydro, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, Manchester’s AO Arena, Leeds’ First Direct Arena. They will also play a major festival performance at Corona Capital in Mexico City. More live activity is soon to be announced.
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