A bit of January joy came for fans of all things indie this Tuesday morning in the form of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, who have shared news of their forthcoming album Council Skies, due for release on June 2nd 2023 through Sour Mash records, and available for preorder now, here.
Recorded at both his own Lone Star Sound studios in London and the legendary Abbey Road, and produced by Noel himself, alongside long-term collaborator Paul ‘Strangeboy’ Stacey, Council Skies features sessioning from Johnny Marr on three tracks, including Pretty Boy, which was released in Autumn ‘22 and gained widespread acclaim and A-list status across global key networks.
Gallagher, who notoriously rose to fame through Oasis, has had countless successful releases during the span of his solo career to date. In 2021, his High Flying Birds celebrated a decade of success, with Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021) achieving the band their fourth consecutive UK Number One, as well as Noel’s 12th UK number one album across his entire career. Yet, Noel is heading back to his roots with his fourth solo studio album, writing “It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be… that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s.” In Council Skies, Gallagher reclaims and celebrates his Mancunian upbringing. The title itself is borrowed from the title of a book by northern artist Pete McKee, a friend of Gallagher’s. The book contains reflections upon McKee’s council estate childhood, considered themes of youth and ambition, and is a social commentary on working class life and music. Doubtlessly, these are themes we shall soon be able to explore Noel’s interpretation of as we hear more of this upcoming album.
Meanwhile, the attention to detail in following through these themes is simply stunning; right down to the album artwork, Gallagher pays homage to his home. The album cover itself was taken by renowned northern photographer Kevin Cummins, and sees Gallagher’s live equipment placed in front of what was once the centre of Maine Road Football Stadium, subtly marking the 100 year anniversary of the ground being opened as the former home of his beloved Manchester City Football Club. The remainder of the album artwork captures glimpses of locations poignant to Noel, the final photograph a shot of Manchester’s Piccadilly station, referencing his departure to London. I think this rather beautifully foreshadows the journey we can expect to unlock through this album, and the feelings it may evoke.
Perhaps that journey began last Autumn with Pretty Boy, but we can continue it this week- alongside the news of their forthcoming album, the High Flying Birds share a single, Easy Now. The track is glorious, it encapsulates everything you look for in a song of its genre; it builds really nicely, that guitar break is surely soothing the souls of musos across the UK already, and it conveys that sentimental, romantic atmosphere found in an Oasis song. Yet, it does a little bit more than that. The soft brushes of organ chords and joyous backing vocals perfectly frame the lyrics, ‘soon your future will appear’, ‘let it take your weight and she will guide you home’ ‘your destination comes without a fare’. Encompassing lyrical concepts of faith and higher being which are backed so daintily with certain aspects of the instrumentation, the song almost begs you to trust in it, and it feels so pure, so safe, that you can’t really help but do so!
Easy Now is accompanied by a video, featuring Critics Choice nominee Milly Alcock and a cameo from Noel himself, and depicts Alcock overtaken by emotion as the transcendent power referenced within the song takes hold. Speaking further on the album, Gallagher says “When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that… Top of the Pops on TV transformed your Thursday night into this fantasy world, and that’s what I think music should be. I want my music to be elevating and transforming in some way.” I reckon he’s certainly managed so with this track!
Council Skies is available for preorder now on CD, vinyl with a bonus 7”, as well as deluxe limited edition formats including a 3LP and 2CD, featuring remixes by Robert Smith and Pet Shop Boys, and a BBC Radio Two session version of Live Forever. Tracklisting is as follows, as well as dates for your diary to catch Gallagher live!
- I’m Not Giving Up Tonight
- Pretty Boy
- Dead To The World
- Open The Door, See What You Find
- Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone
- Easy Now
- Council Skies
- There She Blows!
- Love Is A Rich Man
- Think Of A Number
- Bonus Track – We’re Gonna Get There In The End
Deluxe Album Tracklisting:
Disc 1:
- I’m Not Giving Up Tonight
- Pretty Boy
- Dead To The World
- Open The Door, See What You Find
- Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone
- Easy Now
- Council Skies
- There She Blows!
- Love Is A Rich Man
- Think Of A Number
Disc 2:
- Don’t Stop…
- We’re Gonna Get There In The End
- Mind Games
- Pretty Boy (Instrumental)
- Dead To The World (Instrumental)
- Council Skies (Instrumental)
- Think Of A Number (Instrumental)
- I’m Not Giving Up Tonight (David Holmes Remix)
- Think Of A Number (Pet Shop Boys Magic Eye 12” Remix)
- Pretty Boy (Robert Smith Remix)
- Council Skies (The Reflex Revision)
- Flying On The Ground (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)
- You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)
- Live Forever (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 2023 UK Headline Shows
21 July Buckinghamshire, PennFest
28 July London, Crystal Palace Bowl
05 August Saffron Waldon, Essex, Audley End
19 August Monmouthshire, Caldicot Castle
20 August Sedgefield, County Durham, Hardwick Festival
26 August Manchester, Wythenshawe Park
Tickets available for all dates here.