After the one-two punch of “The Messenger” and “Playland” early in the 2010s, Johnny Marr has been consistent in dropping a guitar-heavy solo album every four years since. Following 2022’s expansive “Fever Dreams Pts 1-4″, he recently revealed another new LP right on cue, with “The Age of Everything” set to drop on October 2nd. Following lead single “Spin,” he’s sharing another track called “Ophelia” which possesses a sense of yearning rooted in his work way back when with The Smiths.
“The Age Of Everything” is Johnny Marr’s fifth full length studio record. Written in London, developed live on the road across the East Coast of North America and recorded in Manchester, “The Age Of Everything” captures the energy and tensions of the city. Sharp, fast and dynamic, filled with ideas and possibilities.
“This is the record that’s been the most cathartic. The title came to me early in the process and became an inescapable idea. It seemed to sum up the way I think a lot of people are feeling. It’s all encompassing, but it’s not necessarily a negative statement. There’s a sense of overwhelm in the culture brought about by technology, but looking at it with a different light, there could also be a sense of possibility.” Johnny Marr
“The character of “Ophelia” is confounding but there’s a real nobility and strength which reminds me of someone in my life,” he shared of the tune. “So the name just stuck and sounded like a song. I thought about the character and I saw quite a few similarities with the “Ophelia“. As a songwriter, sometimes these things happen where it just sings really well over the track and you go with it. It turned out right.”
Since his last album, Marr released a best-of compilation of his solo work, as well a book about guitarsboth of which he spoke with us about a few years back. He also materialized earlier this year to contribute to the latest War Child comp, “HELP(2)“.
Taken from the new album ‘The Age Of Everything’, out 2nd October.
The Fat Angel Sings 