The Comeback After 25 Years with “Ensoulment”: An In-Depth Analysis of the New Album
The wait is finally over! After a quarter century hiatus, the legendary band The The announces their new and highly anticipated studio album, Ensoulment. This masterful 12-track album, to be released on Friday, September 6, 2024, promises to be a powerful exploration of the human condition in the 21st century.
Ensoulment delves into The The’s familiar territory, addressing themes of love, sex, war, politics, life and death. But it also goes deeper, questioning the very essence of what it means to be human in our complex times. The album was meticulously created at Studio Cinéola in London, the creative hub of frontman Matt Johnson. Here, the songs were carefully molded, mapped and mixed before being refined in rehearsals.
The recording process brought together a familiar family from The The. Longtime members James Eller (bass), DC Collard (keyboards), Earl Harvin (drums) and Barrie Cadogan (lead guitar) joined Matt Johnson to recreate the band’s signature sound. Notably, the album marks the return of co-producer and engineer Warne Livesey, who played a crucial role in the creation of The The’s iconic albums, Infected (1986) and Mind Bomb (1989). Additional musical contributions come from Gillian Glover (background vocals), Terry Edwards (winds), Sonya Cullingford (violin) and Danny Cummings (percussion).
The The’ s releases have always been known for their distinctive visual aesthetic, heavily influenced by the art of Matt Johnson’s late brother Andrew, also known as artist Andy Dog. Ensoulment continues this legacy by presenting some of Andrew’s unpublished works. These artistic pieces adorn the album cover, the meticulously designed 32-page booklet and even the covers of the singles.
The first single, “Cognitive Dissident,” written by Matt Johnson and Barrie Cadogan, was released digitally on May 17. A limited edition 7″ vinyl version will hit stores on June 7. Fans can also expect a stunning music video directed by The The’s longtime collaborators Tim Pope, People Like Us (Vicki Bennett) and Peter Knight.
The album will be available in a variety of formats to meet the preferences of each collector. This includes a double 12″ double vinyl in both black double cover and a limited edition clear glass version, an exclusive limited edition 10″ triple vinyl triple box set, a hardcover CD mediabook, a CD in standard jewel case and even a limited edition cassette tape. To further add to the excitement, three additional singles will be released on limited edition 7″ vinyl, with the first already available for pre-order.
