With his new album Love Is Magic due out 12th October via Bella Union, John Grant has today shared two tracks from the LP. “He’s Got His Mother’s Hips”, which recalls an 80’s electro–clash deep cut that, in John’s words, is “about a cheeseball doing all he can to seduce a woman and making a total ass of himself. It’s a fun song built on disgust.” On the other end of the spectrum is the elegant and heart-breaking album closer “Touch & Go”. That song is a story centred around Chelsea Manning, the former US soldier turned WikiLeaks activist who transitioned to a woman while in prison. “I was very intrigued by her incredible story,” says Grant. “What kind of strength does it take to survive something like that while being decried as a traitor and a pervert for whom death is too good”.
Love Is Magic was produced by Grant alongside analogue synth expert/collector Benge and Paul Alexander of Midlake. The album fully embraces electronic music in its many forms in a way Grant has only flirted with previously, jumping from glimmer pop to schmaltzy serenades to vitriolic political commentary.
John Grant 2018 Tour:
08/16 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
08/18 – Wales, UK – Green Man Festival
08/19 – Belfast, UK – Open House Festival
08/20 – Edinburgh, UK – Edinburgh International Festival
10/26 – Reykjavik, IS – Silfurberg
10/29 – Brighton, UK – Brighton Dome
10/30 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
10/31 – Bath, UK – The Forum
11/02 – Sheffield, UK – Octagon Centre
11/03 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall, Manchester **SOLD OUT**
11/07 – Copenhagen, DK – Vega
11/08 – Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene
11/10 – Wangels, DE – Rolling Stone Weekender
11/12 – Koln, DE – Kulturkirche
11/13 – Hamburg, DE – Kampnagel
11/14 – Berlin, DE – Astra Kulturhaus
11/16 – Rust, DE – Rolling Stone Park
11/30 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
12/02 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
12/03 – Montreal, QC – Fairmont Theatre
12/05 – Detroit, MI – El Club
12/06 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
12/08 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
12/09 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
12/11 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
12/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – State Room
12/14 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
12/15 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst – Atrium
12/16 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
12/18 – Seattle, WA – Columbia City Theatre
12/19 – Portland, OR – Star Theater
12/20 – Vancouver, BC – Imperial Vancouver