On the same day that fellow singer-songwriter legend Bob Dylan announced his new album, Paul Simon revealed details about his own next LP, Stranger To Stranger, and released a first single, “Wristband.” The album arrives June 3 via Concord Music Group and is available for pre-order (see below.)
Stranger To Stranger is Simon’s 13th solo album and first since 2011’s So Beautiful Or So What. He teams with his longtime musical partner Roy Halee, whom he collaborated with on his solo masterpiece from 30 years ago, 1986’s Graceland.
An experimental session with the percussionist in Simon’s band and a group of Flamenco musicians provided the initial rhythmic premise for Stranger to Stranger and inspired the grooves that were the basis for four songs on the album: “The Riverbank,” “The Werewolf,” “Wristband” and “Stranger to Stranger.”
Stranger to Stranger’s collage of sound also includes the Italian electronic dance music artist Clap! Clap!, whose album Tayi Bebba, blending African field recordings and EDM, Simon admired. Clap! Clap!’s sound can be heard on three tracks: “The Werewolf,” “Wristband” and “Street Angel.”
In the announcement, Simon says: “Sound is the theme of this album as much as it’s about the subjects of the individual songs. If people get that, I’ll be pleased. The right song at the right time can live for generations. A beautiful sound, well that’s forever.”
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Here’s the lyric video to the album’s great first release, “Wristband.” Shades of Graceland? If you don’t have a wristband, you can’t get through the door…
Earlier this year, Simon shared his 2016 North American tour plans. It commences April 29 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest and concludes with two homecoming dates at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens, NY on June 30 and July 1. (Full details here.)
Stranger to Stranger – Track List:
1. The Werewolf
2. Wristband
3. The Clock
4. Street Angel
5. Stranger to Stranger
6. In a Parade
7. Proof of Love
8. In the Garden of Edie
9. The Riverbank
10. Cool Papa Bell
11. Insomniac’s Lullaby
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