This summer sees the return of Unkle, as they release their spectacularly beautiful âEnd Titles â Stories for Filmâ, a collection of eclectic recordings from Unkle and various collaborators that were inspired by the moving image in the last two years since âWar Storiesâ was recorded.
It will be released on August 4th on Surrender All â the all encompassing label/studio/music company co-founded by James Lavelle. The current Unkle line up comprises of James Lavelle and Pablo Clements.
This pioneering act are never prepared to stagnate or run out of fresh ideas about musical styles and collaborations, and so have teamed up with some of todayâs most exciting and cutting edge acts within this album, including Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Black Mountain, Gavin Clark, Joel Cadbury (South) James Petralli from White Denim, Chris Goss (Masters of Reality, Queen of the Stone Age) , Dave Bateman, James Griffith (from UNKLEâs touring band), and Aidan Lavelle
As well as bands and artists, Unkle have always chosen to work with some of the most directional and avant garde film makers in recent years, and have become known for their inspired marriage of audio and visuals. From their cult music videos, like the Jonathan Glazer-directed video for âRabbit in Your Headlightsâ, to their mesmerising visuals at live shows, Lavelle and co. are masters of using the two media together to dramatic effect.
Highlights on this new release include âHeavenâ and âBlade in the Backâ which features on Spike Jonzeâ skate video âFully Flaredâ, as well as being the opening and closing title tracks from âOdyssey in Romeâ, the Alex Grazioli documentary about celebrated director Abel Ferrera, for which Unkle provided the entire soundtrack. The album also covers collaborations with Warren du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones who they worked with on the artwork for âWar Storiesâ. Other tracks are collaborations with Philip Sheppard who recently scored the movie âIn The Shadow of the Moonâ, as well as pieces of music created in their Surrender All studio, just by James and Pablo themselves.
Compiling this collection has been a liberating experience for Lavelle; ââit covers a much wider range of influences than an album, like âWar Storiesâ, which has a particular focus. There is room for everything in this kind of collection, from classical all the way to beat-driven instrumentals and electronic rock.ââ
To celebrate their return, Unkle will take this album on the road for an extensive word tour later this year, which will include a headline slot in the dance tent at Glastonbury, as well as a one off spectacular Somerset House show on 12th July. In addition to a set packed with classic UNKLE songs, fans can expect a special, upfront live taste of brand new material taken from the forthcoming studio album, out in 2009.
Dates will run as follows:
July 11th Oxegen Festival Naas, Ireland
July 12th Somerset House London
August 3rd Loch Lomond, Scotland
Lavelle concludes: âA lot of the music weâre making ends up sitting on the shelf, neither properly released nor heard. A waste, really, we thought. So this album is our attempt to alleviate our musical frustrations whilst hoping that it will find a wider audience⦠Itâs not a new album in the usual sense, but new music that has been inspired by the moving image.â