Spandau Ballet To Release New Album

10 October 2009

 

* FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN OVER TWO DECADES *
* ALBUM RELEASED 19th OCT ON MERCURY RECORDS*
* FREE ALBUM TRACK DOWNLOAD *

Fresh from the announcement of their first single in 20 years, Spandau Ballet’s first studio album in two decades will be released on October 19th.
Entitled ‘Once More’, this is Spandau Ballet reinvented for the 21st Century, re-moulding their classic hits with a lush, contemporary sound.
“It’s how we would have made these songs the first time around if we had the maturity and know-how to achieve it,” says Gary Kemp, “The playing is better, the production is better, Tony’s voice is just incredible now. It is the logical conclusion of Spandau’s sound. Our emphasis was to record the album with no synthesizers and no electric guitars but to produce a big sound. ”
Produced by Danton Supple, responsible for Coldplay’s X&Y amongst many others, some of Britain’s greatest pop songs have been recast by a band adding new perspective to tracks they wrote as teenagers and in their 20s.
“We went to live in a studio,” smiles Tony Hadley, “We rediscovered our friendship that was so important the first time round.  We are older, we’re different people now and the album reflects that experience.  We’re proud of who we are and the lives we lived before we got back together.  You can hear a band reborn in these songs, for us they are as exciting as when we first started the band.”
In the world of ‘Once More’ Spandau’s debut single To Cut A Long Story Short is transformed from minimalist synth pop classic into an epic, brooding, Bond-esque soundtrack. The pop-funk of Only When You Leave is now a stripped back ballad, replete with stunning orchestral arrangements, a reflective take from a band bringing experience to their youthful hits.
The track is available as a free download at  www.spandauballet.com to give fans a taster.
“She Loved Like Diamond is a particular favourite,” says Kemp, “It charted quite low in the 80s, we panicked a bit.  We were trying to do what we’d managed with True and Gold but didn’t quite pull it off. We were too immature to understand it.  It’s so satisfying to finally do justice to the song.”
There are two new songs; the single ‘Once More’ is classic Spandau for the 21st century, featuring an incredible vocal from Tony Hadley and songwriting by Gary Kemp and Steve Norman. Immediately memorable, it is like you have known it for years and yet is as fresh as anything most contemporary artists have produced in recent times. With a rousing chorus, ‘Once More’ sounds like a great lost track from the band's Parade album, it's certainly the equal if not better than the classic 'I'll Fly For You', we defy you not to be singing along by the second chorus!

Additionally, there’s the beautiful ‘Love is All’ written by Tony Hadley.  It’s a song with a beautiful sentiment that builds into a fabulous crescendo.

The album was recorded at Hook End studios in Oxfordshire and Battery Studios in London.

Tracklisting:
1.Once more
2.True
3.Gold
4.To Cut A Long Story Short
5.Through the Barricades
6.Only When You Leave
7.Communication
8.She Loved Like Diamond
9.Love Is All
10.Chant No 1
11.With The Pride
12.I’ll Fly For You
13.Lifeline


For Media Information:
The Outside Organisation - 020 7436 3633
david.cox@outside-org.co.uk
chris.goodman@outside-org.co.uk


Spandau Ballet on tour 2009-2010


October 2009
13/10/2009 O2 Arena - Dublin, Ireland
14/10/2009 Odyssey Arena - Belfast, Northern Ireland
16/10/2009 Sheffield Arena - Sheffield, England
17/10/2009 SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
20/10/2009 O2 Arena - SOLD OUT - London, England
21/10/2009 O2 Arena - London, England
22/10/2009 O2 Arena - London, England
24/10/2009 LG Arena - Birmingham , England
25/10/2009 LG Arena - Birmingham , England
26/10/2009 Metro Radio Arena - Newcastle, England
28/10/2009 MEN Arena - Manchester, England
 29/10/2009 Echo Arena - Liverpool, England

November 2009
01/11/2009 Heineken Music Hall – Amsterdam, Holland

March 2010
01/03/2010 Mediolanum Arena – Milan, Italy
02/03/2010 Palalottomatica - Rome, Italy
03/03/2010 Mandela Forum – Florence, Italy
05/03/2010 Zenith – Munich, Germany
06/03/2010 Columiahalle – Berlin, Germany
07/03/2010 Phillipshalle – Dusseldorf, Germany
10/03/2010 Forest National - Brussels, Belgium
12/03/2010 Palau Olimpico – Barcelona, Spain
14/03/2009 Pavilhao Atlantico – Lisbon, Portugal
15/03/2010 Palacio Vistalegre – Madrid, Spain


Ticket info:
Tickets are available from www.spandauballet.com  www.ticketline.co.uk www.seetickets.com www.ticketmaster.co.uk
National CC hotlines: 0871 424 4444 / 0871 230 9894 / 0871 220 0260