Johnny Marr Announces Second solo Album

The marvelous guitarist Johnny Marr (the Smiths, Electronic) will release his second solo album Playland on October 7, 2014. Last year, Marr released his much-lauded debut album The Messenger. Marr commenced work on Playland in London in spring of 2014 soon after his tour in support of The Messenger finished. He brought in The Messenger collaborator and co-producer Doviak, as well as the other musicians who performed on the album and accompanying tour. Marr said through his publicist, "When the Messenger came out I kept on writing. I liked that the band had a momentum going on tour and a connection with the audience, and I thought that energy would be good to capture on the new record." Written around a common theme of "songs that move at the speed of life," Playland captures much of the spirit that made The Messenger intriguing. Marr’s guitar playing and songwriting has never sounded better. "It's important to sound like your environment and on this record that's London and Manchester," he adds. "The feeling of the cities and the people make it into the music." The title Playland is inspired by Homo Ludens, a 1938 book by the highly influential Dutch cultural theorist Johan Huizinga, which explores the concept of play as a precursor and principal element of cultural development. Marr plans to trek through UK as soon as the new album is released. No US dates have been announced yet.

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