What have been your favourite releases so far this year? Today we look to the future and at the most anticipated albums that are set for release before the end of 2015, like New Order, The Libertines and Grimes. Also, what about those elusive albums from some of the music world’s biggest names that never seen to know whether they’re coming or going…
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Rihanna – #R8
unknown
Now that we’ve had four official releases, one of which was for the soundtrack of animation Home, can we expect her highly anticipated 8th studio album, slated as #R8, anytime soon? Her last LP was 2012’s Unapologetic, a huge success the world over, and now we are still waiting to hear when we can expect to get our hands on #R8. In January, she released her acoustic gospel track FourFiveSeconds with Kanye West and Paul McCartney, followed by American Oxygen’ and most recently, the controversial ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’.
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The latter, BBHMM, was released at the same moment she became the first artist to pass 100m singles sold and streamed. She’s got 58 singles to her name, including features, and is still only 27. We are not sure what to expect from R8 but we’re sure that a club banger is on its way soon. Although if reports are to be believed we’re going to be waiting a while. She’s concentrating on her fashion empire right now… bitch.
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Stereophonics – Keep the village alive
September 11
The Welsh boys are back at it and announced their ninth album ‘Keep the Village Alive’ In May, which was celebrated with the release of the lead single and first album track ‘C’est La Vie’, and later with two more tracks debuted at Teenage Cancer Trust 2015 entitled Song for the Summer and I Wanna Get Lost With You. Their last album 2012’s Graffiti on the Train was a critical success and this album will be the first that drummer Jamie Morrison will feature on. The lead single already reveals a lighter sound than that of 2012’s Graffiti, which was anthemic and had a certain Muse sound to its orchestration.
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It’s said that a whopping 40-something songs were written, 30 of which were recorded and completed and it was originally planned to be the second part of a trilogy of albums. But this idea was scrapped after Green Day released their Uno Dos Tres series. It’s set for release on 11th September on Stylus Records.
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New Order – Music Complete
25 September
With the likes of Elly Jackson, Iggy Pop and Brandon Flowers onboard, their 10th album is already shaping up rather nicely. Though Lost Sirens was released in 2013, it’s said that this is the official follow up to 2005’s ‘Waiting For The Siren’s Call’. Most tracks were produced by New Order but there are definitely two confirmed that have been in the hands of the Chemical Brothers’s Tom Rowlands and on featuring production from Stuart Price.
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This will also mark the first album their original bassist Peter Hook, with whom unpleasantries have been exchanged but whatever. These things happen. Music Complete also marks the return of Gillian Gilbert who has not featured on a New Order record since 2001’s Get Ready. So that can only mean good things. The album is set for release 25th September on Mute Records.
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Frank Ocean – Boys Don’t Cry
September
The incredible Frank Ocean announced his new album back in April 2015, saying that we can expect its release in July. But it doesn’t seem like we’ll be seeing it anytime soon. Following up his critically acclaimed album ORANGE is going to be no easy feat, and with the silly press-driven distraction between him and Miguel happening, he’s very much in demand.
We’ve heard that the album was recorded at Abbey Road, according to French pianist Christophe Chassol who joins Ocean on the new LP and its rumoured that mega-producer Rick Rubin is on the case. The last new music we had from Frank Ocean was back in November 2014, when he revealed a track called memrise. But we are yet to hear more. Rumoured for a September release.
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The Libertines – Anthems for Doomed Youth
September
Yes please! over a decade later and it’s been confirmed that The Libertines are finishing up their third album Anthems for Doomed Youth, something that these guys are very well experienced in, having rode the wave of indie success in the early to mid 00s. It’s an album that they’ve been working on for over a year, produced by Jake Gosling, a man which, hold on to your hats, has worked extensively with One Direction.
But, we are not to let the title fool us. Lyrically, we are told that the songs are strong, and about overcoming the hardships of doomed youth with optimism. The album is said to be released not long after they play various special shows, including their headlining gig at Reading and Leeds festival over the August Bank Holiday in England… so that could me we have a September release on our hands. Exciting!! September on Virgin EMI.
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Radiohead – TBC
Start schedule September
In June, Radiohead’s drummer Philip Selway spoke about their upcoming 9th album, the followup to 2011’s The King’s Limbs is to become the groups sole focus as of September. He says that progress has been ‘in fits and starts’ and that due to the numerous projects of the members, sitting down and concentrating on it hasn’t yet come to fruition. As with each album, they change their methods and the 9th is looking to be be no different, and with the solo projects taken on by the members (Yorke’s solo album Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, and an 18-day ambient soundtrack for an art installation) we can expect something as original as ever and we can’t wait.
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Grimes – TBC
October
The followup to Genesis was originally planned for release in Autumn 2014 but Grimes decided to scrap that album to start over. In March she revealed one of the scrapped songs, the utterly brilliant REALiTi, that she says she saved from the records she binned and was originally recorded in 2013. Though she says it’s not mixed or mastered it still sounds on point. Sadly, this won’t be featured on the upcoming release so it gives us no clue as to the upcoming album’s sound.
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What we do know is that she’s promised an October release, opting for a surprise date to ensure that fans hear it before the press do. Fingers crossed.
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Skepta – Konnichiwa
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North London’s Skepta has taken the world of grime by storm and the excitement surrounding his upcoming release is reaching fever point. Since 2014, the artist has been slowly revealing three singles from his 4th studio album, unofficially titled Konnichiwa. His sudden rise in fame is in part thanks to a surprise show in London in which he and other Grime artists joined Kanye West onstage. I’m sure you’ve seen the footage from the 2015 Brit Awards too, where West was joined by Septa, Krept, Konan and more.
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As to when the album will be released is still to be decided but it’s looking like it might be released on Boy Know Better records, just like his previous three efforts.
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PJ Harvey – Recording in Progress
Unknown
Honestly, there is not much to write about Pj Harvey’s upcoming record aside from the fact that we know she is recording it. The follow up to her 2011 album Let England Shake is being recorded and performed as an art project installation at Somerset House in London.
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For the project Pj Harvey is recording in public, appropriately coining the album as Recording in Process, though we are waiting for an official title. We are yet to hear when this will be released but we now that Flood is producing it and that it will be released on Island records.
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Kanye West – Swish
Soon… he says
What a year Kanye has had. Each week there is something to say about Kanye’s output, whether it’s his work or what he says about himself and his work. Basically, he’s great at making himself sound like a bit of an egotistical arse. But, Swish… what can we expect?
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Well, his recent meeting of minds with UK’s Grime masters will have certainly had an influence on the record, and we’ve heard the song Wolves with Sia and All Day, which he performed at the Brits. There was also the collaboration with Rihanna and Paul McCartney so could we be seeing them on the release? And what about the Vic Mensa collab?
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Who knows. But that was the only activity regarding new material, then there was his huge Glastonbury appearance.. and that’s where we are up to so far Watch this space.
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Demi Lovato – TBC
The last week has seen a whole lot of action from the lovely Demi Lovato, whose new song and lead single Cool For The Summer mixes sweetly sung verses with shout-a-long choruses with spectacular pop results. There is no album registered as of yet, but since 2009’s Here We Go Again, Lovato has released a new LP every two years, so we could be in for an Autumn or Winter release. Single Cool For The Summer was produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami was released through her own record label Safehouse Records, which she co-owns with Nick Jonas and her manager Phil McIntyre.
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Talking about the album, Demi has said that the last album, 2013’s Demi, really helped her discover who she really is and she’s been able to use her new found confidence and pour all her new energy into writing and recording. We can’t wait.
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Red Hot Chilli Peppers – TBC
End of year
At the start of July, it was confirmed that fans can expect another album, one which marks a new sound, method of writing and playing in order to challenge themselves and their listeners, but keeping within the Pepper’s sound according to drummer Chad Smith. He also confirmed that the guys have already started recording and are working through a bunch of songs they’ve written and it’s also been hinted at that they’ll be working with Danger Mouse on the new LP.
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Adele – TBC
When it’s ready
Apparently Adele can only write when she is suffering and seeing as the songbird is currently loved up and a new mother, it seems that songwriting is on the side for now. But, she’s told us not to get our hopes up anytime soon and guys in ‘the know’ are saying that ‘the album will be released when it’s ready – that will be some stage in 2015’. Do we believe it, not really, to be honest. But that hasn’t stop the reports of who has contributed to the album, and the names Ryan Tedder, Phil Collins, Damon Albarn, James Ford and Paul Epworth have all been mentioned in passing. And, with the huge unprecedented success of 21, who could blame her for wanting to make sure that she gets it right. Like… that album was so utterly huge, of course Adele won’t be wanting to rush her new material. Bring it on.
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Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams
Before end of the year
The end is nigh. The UK’s undisputed masters of festival and stadium hits have hinted that they are working on their final album A Head Full of Stars. It will be their seventh album, something which Chris Martin compared to the Harry Potter series, and he feels that it is time to close this certain chapter, which doesn’t necessarily mean no more music form them. Building on from where they left off with Head Full Of Stars, Martin has expressed how the band want to create an album of sheer joy and uplifting, full of colour and promise. So can we expect more songs like their foray with EDM ‘Head Full of Stars’? I guess we’ll just have to wait until the end of the year and see.