We're able to get into the studio next month whereby work will resume on Utopian. We will be in Parr St. Studios in Liverpool. I believe this will be my last time working there as it looks as though the building will soon be sold to property development, a real tragedy which I will muse on at a later date in another post. I know many of you have been waiting a long time for this album, having ordered as far back as September '19. I am eternally grateful for your support and your patience, I can't tell you how frustrating it's been losing all my live work and not being able to do the album either.
I've recorded a lot of stuff at home but there's only so far you can get in isolation. Steve 'Smiley' Barnard (drums on Our Future In Space) has recorded a bunch of stuff for it down the wires, and Nick Kilroe - Icicle Works' drummer for the past year - will be working his magic also - come July. There's well over twenty tracks at the moment which will be whittled down to an even twenty.
The idea was - it's my 20th studio album, featuring 20 tunes, to be released in 2020. Now here's the rub: I don't want to release the album until I can tour it - and I do not want 2020 written on the LP anywhere - as I never want to see or be reminded of this year when it's gone, as I'm sure you do not. So the album will not be coming out this year. I know many of you will be bitterly disappointed about this, but it's just the way I feel. It's shaping up to be a real beauty and I want to be able to go out and play it live when it is released, which will hopefully be spring/summer 2021 - when I'm told I can tour. Sorry to be the bearer of more negative news. Stay safe, I x #utopian