The 11 track album finds the group’s principal songwriter, vocalist and frontman Bobby Gillespie preparing to release some of the most personal songwriting of his band’s career. The process for “Come Ahead” began in 2022, at which point Bobby Gillespie had no idea if he would make another Primal Scream album again. For the first time in a long time, the lyrics came before the music. The story came first. Bobby wrote alone, using an acoustic guitar. Ideas flowed fast, in long bursts of inspiration. This process, in tandem with encouragement from producer David Holmes, provided a new way in. Working with Holmes and Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes, the “Come Ahead” sessions were completed between Belfast, London and Los Angeles.
The album artwork was created using a photograph of Bobby’s late father, Robert Gillespie Senior, by Turner Prize nominated artist Jim Lambie. Bobby’s father remains deeply respected for his lifelong commitment to campaigning for social justice, and themes of class run through “Come Ahead”. “There is a message of hope in the record,” says Bobby Gillespie “but it’s tempered with an acceptance of the worst side of human nature.”
The time that’s elapsed since Primal Scream’s previous album has seen Bobby Gillespie at his most prolific. Shapeshifting between some of the most celebrated projects of his career whilst steadily stockpiling the songs that would become “Come Ahead”. His 2021 memoir Tenement Kid was selected as Rough Trade’s Book of the Year, and won the NME Award for Best Music Book. The band’s era-defining “Screamadelica” album celebrated its 30th anniversary with huge sold out gigs across the UK, including London’s Alexandra Palace. Gillespie teamed with Paul Weller writing lyrics for “Soul Wandering”, the first single from his latest album “66″, and collaborated with Jehnny Beth in Paris writing and recording an entire album of duets titled “Utopian Ashes”. Bobby also collaborated with acid house duo Paranoid London, singing on their new song “People (Ah Yeah)”, and composed his first movie soundtrack for the 2023 cinematic release “Five Hectares” with French filmmaker Émilie Deleuze. Bobby also sings on six new songs on the forthcoming Peter Perrett album, “The Cleansing”. This myriad of new creative projects provided the vital space for “Come Ahead” to take shape.
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