Written and recorded in part in Montmartre by Courteeners talismanic singer/songwriter Liam Fray last autumn, Concrete Love is the band’s most rounded and satisfying record to date - its release coincides perfectly with a moment when they reach the peak of their live powers. The album sees the band working again with regular collaborator/producer Joe Cross (Hurts/Chloe Howl).
In the six years since they released their sharp and underrated debut St Jude – a pinpoint accurate portrayal of young life– the band have risen steadily with a quiet confidence. Each of their albums has gone Top 10 - St. Jude (no.4), Falcon (no.6), ANNA (no.6) - and the growth in their live shows has been exponential and astonishing. In 2013, Courteeners quickly sold over 100,000 gig tickets outside of festival appearances in the UK – including Brixton Academy and Manchester Arena. In August, the band play as special guests of the Killers at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow before headlining the NME stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals. They then tour the UK extensively in the autumn.
Concrete Love is available for pre-order now via all usual outlets. I-tunes pre-orders will immediately receive the exclusive album track Summer – as perfect a piece of sunshine pop as you’re likely to hear this season. Deluxe editions of the album come with either a DVD (physical copies) or download (i-tunes) recorded at the band’s momentous Castlefield Bowl gigs in July 2013, where, over two nights the band played to sold-out crowds of 16,000 people. The first single proper from the album will be released next month.
