BLONDIE light up 2017 with the release of their eleventh studio album, POLLINATOR, on BMG on 5 May, an incredible new record and a modern take on the classic, vintage sound of one of the world’s most influential and legendary bands.
New York’s famed recording studio, THE MAGIC SHOP, notably known for David Bowie’s last two albums alongside one by Lou Reed, was a particularly fitting setting to inspire BLONDIE’s musical creativity. The last album to be recorded at The Magic Shop prior to its closure, POLLINATOR is a riot of sound and musical colour; its eleven tracks representing the continuation of a 40+ year musical adventure.
Taken from the new album, the lead single FUN is available to stream and download now, with a highly collectible 7” vinyl pressing available only from independent retailers, and limited to 1000 copies. FUN co-writer DAVE SITEK of TV ON THE RADIO is a direct descendent of BLONDIE’s New York post-punk legacy. With DEBBIE HARRY and the band sounding as good as ever, the euphoric track plays like the best party ever thrown, capturing that unique combination of their enviable cool and sheer melodic joy.
BLONDIE’s classic writing duo of CHRIS STEIN and DEBBIE HARRY are at the heart of the album’s creation on DOOM OR DESTINY and LOVE LEVEL; while keyboard player MATT KATZ-BOHEN’s two tracks, ALREADY NAKED and TOO MUCH, prove the band continue to evolve almost song by song with founding drummer CLEM BURKE providing the unmistakably thrilling propulsion throughout. CHRIS STEIN’s fascination with modern culture sees him mine FRAGMENTS, a song from ADAM JOHNSTON aka AN UNKINDNESS, first heard as a sample on the Vancouver based indie artist’s YouTube movie reviews.
Producer JOHN CONGLETON [St Vincent, John Grant, War On Drugs, David Byrne] brought the band into the studio to record live, capturing the essence of a band at the very beginning and the very heart of punk rock, a genre that defined his life.
Pop’s uber writers and chart queens CHARLI XCX [with the digital, bubblegum punk of GRAVITY] and SIA [with the shimmering synth-led BEST DAY EVER] are fans of the band invited to contribute to the album by an admiring DEBBIE HARRY.
The Smiths’ JOHNNY MARR, an old friend and admirer, writes MY MONSTER and joins the band on guitar; while DEV HYNES [Lightspeed Champion] cements an enduring partnership with BLONDIE by channelling shards of Heart of Glass into the irresistible LONG TIME.
Along the way, JOAN JETT and LAURIE ANDERSON both made studio appearances on DOOM OR DESTINY, along with THE GREGORY BROTHERS on WHEN I GAVE UP ON YOU.
“Their material is part of us and we are part of them,” says DEBBIE HARRY of their co-writers, all of whom were influenced by her band in the first place. “It’s a celebration of recycling.”
Sounding as vital and essential as ever, POLLINATOR is a BLONDIE record for 2017 that stands alongside anything else in their extraordinary career.
World-renowned artist SHEPARD FAIREY designed the POLLINATOR artwork which, as well being available on CD, Digital and Heavy Weight Vinyl, will also be available as a limited edition 7” Box Set. Fans will also be able to order a limited Red Heavy Weight Vinyl from the artist store, and an exclusive White Heavy Weight Vinyl from independent retailers only.
BLONDIE have already announced April dates in Australia and New Zealand, which will soon be followed by the announcement of dates in the USA and Canada in the summer, then UK and Europe dates in the autumn. Full details to follow soon.
TRACK LISTING:
* DOOM OR DESTINY
* LONG TIME
* ALREADY NAKED
* FUN
* MY MONSTER
* BEST DAY EVER
* GRAVITY
* WHEN I GAVE UP ON YOU
* LOVE LEVEL
* TOO MUCH
* FRAGMENTS
POLLINATOR album available to pre-order at: https://blondie.lnk.to/PollinatorPR
New Single FUN available to stream and download at: https://blondie.lnk.to/FunATPR
FUN video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEngbdIMZ6o&lf=b2197904b53b79f70b54bf1ce2787573
Produced by: JOHN CONGLETON
Songs by: BLONDIE | JOHNNY MARR | DEV HAYNES of LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION | SIA |
CHARLI XCX | DAVE SITEK of TV ON THE RADIO | NICK VALENSI of THE STROKES
