Ultra Mono

Ultra Mono is the upcoming third studio album by English band Idles, due to be released on 25 September 2020 by Partisan Records.

Ultra Mono
Studio album by
Idles
Released25 September 2020 (2020-09-25)
Recorded2019
Length42:54
LabelPartisan
ProducerAdam Greenspan, Nick Launay
Idles chronology
A Beautiful Thing: Idles Live at le Bataclan
(2019)		 Ultra Mono
(2020)
Singles from Ultra Mono
  1. "Mr. Motivator"
    Released: 19 May 2020
  2. "Grounds"
    Released: 16 June 2020
  3. "A Hymn"
    Released: 14 July 2020
  4. "Model Village"
    Released: 11 August 2020

Background and production

Following the release and success of their 2018 album Joy as an Act of Resistance, Idles received mainstream attention and toured extensively in support of it. The band confirmed in an Instagram post in January 2019 that they were writing new music and in March, debuted a new song called "Grounds" during an exclusive show for Dr. Martens.[1][2] The song featured once again in the setlist for the band's UK tour in December 2019, including their show at Alexandra Palace, where they debuted two more new songs: "War" and "Danke".[3]

In an interview with DIY following the album's announcement in June 2020, lead singer Joe Talbot opened up about the themes and inspiration behind the album, saying: "Emotionally I’m not healed, I’m healing and that’s what’s on the record. So this one is about processing and finding pragmatic ways of moving forward, and from your reaction to that trauma, you build something concise and beautiful (...) the songs are all projections of inner workings, I’m not preaching or telling anyone else what to do. I’m showing people what I’m doing to become a better person in the long run - no, not better, but a more productive person.”[4]

Ultra Mono was recorded throughout 2019 and the band documented the process, intermittently sharing images of themselves on social media in the studio throughout the year, with one post teasing an appearance from Warren Ellis. In an interview with Zane Lowe in December 2019, Talbot confirmed that they had finished recording the album and that it was being mixed[5]. The band worked with returning Joy producers Nick Launay and Adam ‘Atom’ Greenspan on the album, with additional programming provided by Kenny Beats and additional guest appearances from Jehnny Beth, David Yow and Jamie Cullum[6].

Release

On 19 May 2020, Idles released "Mr. Motivator" as a promotional single from the album. This was preceded by a light-hearted post on the band's Instagram account on 15 May which invited their audience to "get physical with Dev," featuring bassist Adam Devonshire working out and quoting lyrics from the song. In keeping with the announcement's theme, the song's music video featured a montage of fan-submitted workout clips.[7]

On 16 June 2020, Joe Talbot announced Ultra Mono and its release date on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 6 show, alongside the premiere of its lead single "Grounds".[8] Following this, the band released a further two singles, "A Hymn"[9] and "Model Village"[10] on 14 July 2020 and 11 August 2020 respectively.

Ultra Mono is scheduled for release on 25 September 2020.

Track listing
Ultra Mono track listing
No.TitleLength
1."War"3:07
2."Grounds"3:09
3."Mr. Motivator"3:16
4."Anxiety"3:00
5."Kill Them With Kindness"3:50
6."Model Village"3:55
7."Ne Touche Pas Moi" (featuring Jehnny Beth)2:34
8."Carcinogenic"3:50
9."Reigns"4:03
10."The Lover"3:17
11."A Hymn"5:19
12."Danke"3:34
Total length:42:54

Personnel

References
  1. "DM'S BOOT ROOM: IDLES". Dr Martens. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "IDLES Concert Setlist at Dr. Martens Boot Room, London on March 25, 2019". Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. Reilly, Nick. "Watch Idles play defiant new track 'Grounds' at massive Ally Pally show". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. "IDLES CONFIRM THIRD ALBUM 'ULTRA MONO'". DIY. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. "IDLES CONFIRM NEW ALBUM: "IT'S BEING MIXED RIGHT NOW"". Kerrang. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. Skinner, Tom. "IDLES announce third album 'Ultra Mono' and share new track 'Grounds'". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. Neale, Matthew. "Watch IDLES' sweaty workout video for new single 'Mr. Motivator'". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. Skinner, Tom. "IDLES announce third album 'Ultra Mono' and share new track 'Grounds'". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. "IDLES SHARE NEW SINGLE 'A HYMN'". DIY. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  10. Tom, Skinner. "Idles share Michel Gondry-directed animated video for 'Model Village'". NME. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
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