‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’ is the 3rd single from Ensoulment, THE THE’s first studio album in a quarter century.
Co-produced by Matt Johnson and Warne Livesey, the album is released on Cinéola / earMUSIC next Friday, 6th September 2024.
It is a song Matt Johnson had been trying to write for many years but never managed to finish – until last year. It belongs to the family of songs he has written about London, including ‘Perfect’, ‘Flesh & Bones’, ‘Heartland’, ‘The Beat(en) Generation’, ‘Helpline Operator’, ‘Pillar Box Red’ and others.
The song features Matt Johnson on vocals and acoustic guitar; Barrie Cadogan on electric guitar and backing vocals; DC Collard on keyboards; James Eller on bass; Earl Harvin on drums; Sonya Cullingford on fiddle; Gillian Glover on backing vocals.
“I have often drunk my coffee by the grave of William Blake – though these days there are actually two gravestones dedicated to him in the small dissenters’ cemetery that he was thrown into when he died. On and off over the last 40 years I have lived close by and have always found it an inspiring place to sit and meditate upon life. Nostalgia is part of the human condition and change is inevitable in our lives and in the world around us. Large capital cities such as London often amplify the sense of change, although one thing that never seems to change is the cynicism of those in power” – Matt Johnson
Listen to ‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’
https://thethe.lnk.to/WilliamBlakePR
The new music video for ‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’ was made in conjunction with long-time collaborators: directed by Tim Pope with editing by Vicki Bennett (People Like Us). Anya Krasnikova was the Director of Photography.
Additionally, the single cover features a previously unpublished work of Matt Johnson’s late brother Andrew (AKA artist Andy Dog) who, over the years, was very much responsible for the distinctive aesthetic style of THE THE’s releases. The B-sides for all Ensoulment singles have been composed, performed and produced by Matt Johnson especially for each limited edition 7” vinyl. In this case, the B-side, ‘Frozen Clouds’ will also feature in the soundtrack for director Gerard Johnson’s forthcoming film, Odyssey.
Ensoulment itself contains echoes of THE THE’s multifaceted musical past, however it is richly representative of the mercurial band’s here and now. Johnson is characteristically unafraid to tackle the emotional complexity inherent in the human condition – intimacy in an age of alienation; democracy in a post-truth age; empire and vassalage; and the inexorable rise of AI – yet the album is equally shot through with hope.
“It’s vital to be hopeful,” Johnson states. “And I hope people get out of the album what we put into it. It was created under very happy circumstances, with a great vibe amongst the band and all the people that worked on it. There was a lot of thought, a lot of work, a lot of love, a lot of laughter!
Ensoulment will be available on Ltd CD Hardcover Media Book, CD jewel case, Black 2 LP gatefold and Crystal Clear 2 LP gatefold.
Get it here
https://thethe.lnk.to/EnsoulmentPR
14 November – Auckland, SOLD OUT
16 November 2024 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne, SOLD OUT
17 November 2024 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
18 November 2024 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
21 November 2024 – Sydney Opera House
22 November 2024 –Sydney Opera House
23 November 2024 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, SOLD OUT
24 November 2024 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
27 November 2024 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
