Glasgow band Texas to return with first album in four years

The band Texas return with their new album Hi on May 28 via BMG. New single “Mr Haze” is driven by a Donna Summer sample. Listen HERE.

Back in 2018 Texas’ frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and bass guitarist Johnny McElhone found some long-forgotten outtakes from the original sessions for their 1997 breakthrough album, White on Blonde – which was certified six times platinum in the UK and won the band an Ivor Novello Award for “Outstanding Songwriting”. Initially, Sharleen and Johnny thought these undiscovered gems could be released as a ‘lost’ album but listening to the tracks inspired them to write some brand new material.

“Our excitement at finding this treasure trove of songs collided with our excitement back then and, unplanned, new songs started coming,” says Sharleen. “You could say we were inspired by ourselves!”

Hi is the Scottish band’s 10th album. Three of the songs were written in lockdown, in Scotland, Wales, LA and Sweden. Collaborations include “Dark Fire”, written with Richard Hawley, which recalls the spirit of a slow dance at a high school prom while “Look What You’ve Done” finds Sharleen trading verses with Clare Grogan (of Scottish new wave band Altered Images).

Then there's the piano ballad “Unbelievable. “We don’t usually do ballads,” Sharleen admits. “But this one really stuck. The words are very intimate and personal while the music sounds really epic.”

About "Just Wanna Be Liked," she says, "All our albums have cinematic songs." Ennio “Morricone in particular is still a huge influence. We’re referencing our past but also writing from the position we’re in now. Being able to stand back from what you’ve achieved gives you a different perspective. Our aim has only ever been to make great music.”

Track listing:

Mr Haze
Hi (with Wu-Tang Clan)
Just Want To Be Liked
Unbelievable
Moonstar
Dark Fire
Look What You’ve Done
Heaven Knows
You Can Call Me
Sound of My Voice
Falling
Hi (Single Mix)
Had A Hard Day *
Had to Leave *

* = deluxe version