More about: Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers have taken a different turn on the second single, ‘The Secret He Had Missed’, taken from their upcoming album. The track is a collaboration with Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming and takes a much poppier approach than we’re used to from the band. The album, Ultra Vivid Lament, will arrive 3 September on Columbia/Sony.

The single has been a divisive one, with fan reactions ranging from confusion at the retro-pop direction to others naming it one of their best songs to date. While the ABBA-esque new track is a good duet, long-time fans of the band might not be keen.

The song represents the wider intention of the album, which takes inspiration from “formative years” artists like ABBA, Echo and the Bunnymen and REM. Check out the music video, which stars Peaky Blinders actress Aimee Ffion Edwards, here:

The Ultra Vivid Lament tracklist:

1. Still Snowing in Sapporo
2. Orwellian
3. The Secret He Had Missed
4. Quest For Ancient Colour
5. Don’t Let The Night Divide Us
6. Diapause
7. Complicated Illusions
8. Into The Waves Of Love
9. Blank Diary Entry
10. Happy Bored Alone
11. Afterending

2021 Tour Dates

September 2021

26 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall

28 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall

29 – Dundee, Caird Hall

October 2021

01 – Stoke-On-Trent, Victoria Hall

02 – Manchester, O2 Apollo

04 – York, Barbican

05 – Glasgow, Barrowland

07 – Leeds, O2 Academy

08 – Portsmouth, Guildhall

10 – Bournemouth, O2 Academy

11 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange

13 – Bath, Forum

14 – Brighton, Dome

December 2021

03 – London, The SSE Arena, Wembley

More about: Manic Street Preachers