The Durutti Column Announce New Comeback Album ‘Renascent’

Manchester guitar ace Vini Reilly formed his band the Durutti Column in 1978. They were the first band that Tony Wilson signed to Factory Records, and they helped shape the sound of ’80s new wave through Reilly’s florid, impressionistic guitar work, which brought jazz and folk influences to a genre that might’ve been light on those otherwise. They never made a big hit, but they’ve been a commonly cited influence over the years. Blood Orange just sampled them on “The Field,” while Harry Styles talked about them in the run-up to his own album release. Now, the Durutti Column are coming back with Renascent, their first new album in 16 years.

On this new record, the follow-up to 2010’s A Paean To Wilson, Reilly recorded with producer/instrumentalist Keir Stewart and drummer/percussionist Bruce Mitchell. The album includes a revisited version of the Durutti Column’s 1980 track “For Belgian Friends,” now retitled “For Friends Everywhere.” It’s got a Factory Records catalog number and cover art from veteran Factory designers Mark Holt and Hamish Muir. Lead single “Liars” is a gasping, regretful meditation that brings back the classic Durutti Column sound, but with the hard-won perspective that comes with age. Check out that song and the tracklist below.

TRACKLIST:
01 “Echoes In The Memory”
02 “Your Shadow At Morning”
03 “Time Present And Time Past”
04 “Agonistes”
05 “Liars”
06 “Vapour In A Matchbox”
07 “Your Shadow At Evening”
08 “Sargasso Sea”
09 “Scammer”
10 “For Friends Everywhere”
11 “All They See Is Fire” (CD/digital bonus track)

Renascent is out 7/31 on London. Also, this year’s Harry Styles-curated Meltdown Festival will include a show called “For Vini: A Tribute To The Durutti Column,” with Renascent producer and instrumentalist Keir Stewart joining past Durutti Column collaborators Liz Rossi, Caolfhionn Rose, and Sam Morris to play songs from the band’s catalog.