Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers has been talking about the band's new album, 'Life Blood', which will be released in Oct this year. Speaking to NME he said: "It's modern, shiny, pure pop, elegiac pop. It really is the poppiest album we've ever done. The mixer of Goldfrapp (Tom Elmhirst) has been working with us, and he's really given it a lovely sheen and a modern edge. We've been listening to The Associates, early New Order, Joy Division. It's 'The Holy Bible' for 35 year olds!"
Manics fans, meanwhile, might be interested in the new single from London-based band Johnny Boy. Manics member James Dean Bradfield has been working with them producing first single 'You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve'. That single will be released properly on 9 Aug on Vertigo after a limited edition release on Welsh indie label Boobytrap proved so popular.