More about: Ian BrownThe Stone Roses

So what with that Stone Roses reunion amounting to a series of massive gigs and just two new tracks, it falls upon their frontman Ian Brown to come back with a solo album’s worth of fresh material – and here’s a taster with ‘Black Roses’.

Taken from Ripples - Ian Brown’s first new solo collection in 10 years – ‘Black Roses’ isn’t a meditation of the mooted demise of the band he shared with guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni but is, in actual fact, a cover of the 1983 track originally recorded by reggae legend Barrington Levy.

And it’s quite the departure from the original. Which is just as well, as you don’t just wade in and think that a couple of clipped chords and some booming bass make for a reggae track. Instead, King Monkey as elected to adopt a more punk-style approach with a serrated riffing guitar, keyboards, straight-ahead bass and drums. Have a listen:

Ripples is scheduled for release on 01 February. In addition to producing the album himself, Ian Brown has also taken on most of the musical duties that finds him playing the guitar, drums and a bunch of other instruments. The album also features another reggae cover in the form of Mikey Dread’s ‘Break Down The Walls’.

He’s also involved his sons in the song writing process. Consequently, they share credits with their old fella on three of the songs as well as playing a variety on instruments themselves.

‘Black Roses’ follows hot on the heels of ‘First World Problems’, which was released at the tail end of October.

Ripples’ tracklisting is:

01. First World Problems
02. Black Roses
03. Breathe and Breathe Easy (The Everness of Now)
04. The Dream and the Dreamer
05. From Chaos to Harmony
06. It’s Raining Diamonds
07. Ripples
08. Blue Sky Day
09. Soul Satisfaction
10. Break Down the Walls (Warm Up Jam)

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More about: Ian BrownThe Stone Roses