In a surprise announcement, The Wolfgang Press, the enigmatic 4AD masterminds of post-punk and avant-garde funk, are set to make a triumphant return with brand new music. For the first time in nearly three decades, The Wolfgang Press has re-formed and are set to release A 2nd Shape on September 27th through Downward Records.
Emerging from the depths of London’s underground scene in the early 1980s, the original lineup of Michael Allen, Mark Cox, and Andrew Gray forged a path with their dark, experimental soundscapes and infectious rhythms that blended brooding post-punk with danceable grooves.
Their previous albums, Bird Wood Cage and Queer, remain touchstones of innovation, influencing countless artists with their genre-defying approach. A 2nd Shape was conjured up by founding members Michael Allen and Andrew Gray, with Andrew’s brother, Stephen Gray, joining the fray. (Founding member Mark Cox left the band in 1995 and does not appear on this album.)
The Wolfgang Press has released a teaser trailer that offers a taste of what’s to come. In A 2nd Shape, the trio seemingly abandons their trademark avant-garde funk infusion for a darker, more intense collection of tracks. The result is a revitalized band, brimming with new energy. A 2nd Shape feels like music for these times, the only kind of statement a group can make after enduring the growing discontent of recent years. For all the moments of atmospheric contemplation, however, The Wolfgang Press is as self-possessed as ever.
Listen below:
“This album arrived naturally and organically,” says the band. “The tracks came about from a measured process, and we feel A 2nd Shape is timely and essential. We also feel Downwards Records has fitted in perfectly with this process, their enthusiasm for this project has been tangible and encouraging…For this project we wanted the record to be made without the use of computers. It was important for us that the tracks were recorded on tape and played live as a band, with very little tampering/overdubbing. We purposely limited ourselves in the number of tracks we could record by using an old ADAT 8-track machine and the result of how well this worked surprised us all.”
A 2nd Shape will be released on Downwards Records on September 27th, 2024. Pre-order the album here.
The Wolfgang Press will be making an appearance at Poland’s Soundedit Festival in October.
Tracklisting:
This Garden of Eden
21st Century
Sad Surfer
Take It Backwards
The 1st
Knock Knock
Reset Your Mind
The Line
Glacier
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