Robyn Hitchcock has announced the UK release of Goodnight Oslo, his first album in three years, on 9 February. He'll also be taking part in a UK tour from 7 February starting in Glasgow.
Robyn Hitchcock Goodnight Oslo
New Album With Venus 3 Released February 9th
UK Tour Begins Glasgow, February 7th
Acclaimed guitarist, singer and songwriter Robyn Hitchcock returns in February with ‘Goodnight Oslo’ - his first album in three years. Taking its title from a memorable evening in Norway, the album is available February 9th on Proper Records, and coincides with a UK tour.
"The title refers to two long nights spent in Oslo in 1982 by Morris Windsor and myself with some friends," says Robyn. "The album, in part, celebrates the ghosts of the smoke age, and the various ways they were wrecked but still sailed on. That's the way it is with humans. You could call it the comfort of doom. ‘Goodnight Oslo’ is a vortex that I am still leaving."
Boasting ten new songs, ‘Goodnight Oslo’ was recorded with friends and longtime cohorts The Venus 3 – Peter Buck (guitar) and R.E.M. mainstays Scott McCaughey (bass, vocals) and Bill Rieflin (drums). All tracks are written by Robyn except ‘Sixteen Years’, written by Robyn and Peter.
The album also features ‘Up To Our Nex’, a track written for Jonathan Demme’s acclaimed new film ‘Rachel Getting Married’ starring Anne Hathaway, which opens early this year after premiering at the recent London Film Festival.
‘Goodnight Oslo’ is the fifteenth album of Robyn’s impressive 30-year career, and follows previous Venus 3 collaborations ‘Ole! Tarantula’ (2006) and the ‘Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas EP’ (2007). Guest vocals are provided by The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, Harvey Danger’s Sean Nelson and Robyn’s old bandmate Morris Windsor (The Soft Boys, The Egyptians).
Having recently toured the US with his ‘I Often Dream Of Trains’ show, Robyn and his band embark on an 11-date UK tour in February, performing tracks from the album alongside some very special guests. Support is provided by Catherine Feeny.
February
Sat 7th GLASGOW, ABC2
Sun 8th NEWCASTLE, Academy 2
Tue 10th LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club
Wed 11th BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
Thu 12th LONDON, Union Chapel
Fri 13th BURY, The Met
Sat 14th BRACKNELL, South Hill Park Arts Centre
Mon 16th BRIGHTON, Komedia
Tue 17th CAMBRIDGE, Junction 2
Wed 18th BRISTOL, The Fleece
Thu 19th CARDIFF, The Globe