Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield has shared full details of his new solo album.
Titled Even In Exile, it’s Bradfield’s first solo studio album since 2006’s The Great Western. The album’s songs are set loosely to the story of the life and death of Chilean poet-singer-activist Victor Jara, and take in words written specifically for the album by poet/playwright Patrick Jones. You can hear lead track ‘The Boy From The Plantation’ above.
"Sometime at the start of 2019, Patrick [Jones] gave me a handful of poems each of which touched on different aspects of Victor Jara’s life," Bradfield explains. "When I read them, I was struck by the idea that if a life means anything, it will continue after death. That thought stuck with me and made me want to turn Patrick’s words into a record.
He continues: "In terms of creating art about an artist, I was inspired by the album Mermaid Avenue by Wilco and Billy Bragg. That record took the words of Woody Guthrie and presented them in a different context, creating a loving act of artistic archeology and a fitting tribute to a great mind."
The announcement of Even In Exile follows on from the unveiling of two solo tracks from James Dean Bradfield last week, which also feature on the new album.
The Orchard will release Even In Exile on August 14, 2020.
