Midge Ure Previews First New Album In Over 12 Years

(ET) Midge Ure announces his new album A Man Of Two Worlds, to be released by Chrysalis Records on May 8. In recent years Ure has spent his time relentlessly touring, and not had the time to fully immerse himself in his studio creating music. To that end, A Man Of Two Worlds is his first album of new material since 2014's Fragile.

Well worth the wait, the album is divided into two clear parts. The first half, World One: Music, consists of eight instrumental pieces, while the second half, World Two: Songs, features eight vocal songs. This concept was partly inspired by the time Midge spent during lockdown listening to instrumental music, and some of the beautiful work he heard while presenting THE SPACE on Scala Radio in the UK. This helped to create the spark to make something without lyrics to guide the way, where the melodies had to speak for themselves. He began writing the instrumental pieces, music shaped by reflection, uncertainty, and a strange kind of quiet.

The eight vocal songs which form the second part of the album, came to fruition as the world reopened. A more divided world, in many ways a much harder and less empathetic one. Sharing an atmosphere with the instrumentals, these songs are incredibly sparse and meditative, dealing with the frailty of the human condition, and a reflection of Midge's concerns for the discord infecting the world today: "'In an ever volatile world, words carry more power to make the change or make things worse. In the sixties what was heard was peace and love and nowadays it seems to be much more about division, hate and war. 'Just Words' reminds us words will only remain words unless they are acted upon."

Lead track, 'Just Words' explores what the 'new normal' is for people in positions of power who blatantly deny or lie, irrespective of what we can see or hear, while 'The Man Who Stole Your Soul' laments the current state of the US, and 'Shouting At The Moon' is a reminder about the power we have through unity. 'Caught In The Middle' muses on human fallibility 'Ordinary Man (Precious Moments)' reflects on passing time and mortality, and the tender 'The Pictures You Carry With You' was crafted from a melody Midge sang to his daughters when they were babies.

A Man Of Two Worlds brings two worlds together: the songs and the instrumentals. No particular genre. Just worlds colliding. Ure will tour the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand with North American Dates to be announced.

Midge on the Man Of Two Worlds album and tour: "Almost every album I've made over the past 40+ years has featured at least one instrumental track. For this album I wanted to explore this further, showing two sides of what I do. The 'Man of Two Worlds' Tour will reflect this idea, combining instrumentals I have done over the years with songs, album tracks and fan favourites side by side taking the audience on a journey."

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