Blossoms ready ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’ for April

The band was among my highlights when I reviewed its Coachella set a few years ago. Read about the new material from the press release below...

Blossoms' fourth studio album ‘Ribbon Around The Bomb’ is set for release on April 29. The British band has shared the title track and accompanying video, directed by Edwin Burdis, Arctic Monkeys’ Creative Director, who worked on the band’s Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino and AM albums.

Listen to “Ribbon Around The Bomb” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

This is the first new music from Blossoms since their “Care For” which was released last year. “Care For” gained great support from radio at home in the UK, with the track being playlisted and made the ‘Hottest Record’ by Radio 1, as well as getting on the B-List with Radio 2.

Speaking about the new album and single, Blossoms’ Tom Ogden reveals, “While on tour in 2019 in Mexico, I visited Frida Kahlo’s house. Looking at her paintings on show, someone had described one of them as being like a ‘ribbon around a bomb’. I immediately thought that it was a great title for a song and album because of the imagery that it evoked in my mind. I thought about how lots of things in life could be described as being a ribbon around a bomb in the sense that as people we often dress things up which have a darkness lying beneath them.”

The band’s new album is produced by regular collaborators James Skelly (The Coral) and Rich Turvey and revolves around a central character ‘The Writer’. Tom Ogden explains:

“The more songs I wrote, the more I realized that the writer referenced in the songs was in fact me. Having been so busy for the past eight years, I and the band have never really had the chance to step back and reflect on what we’ve achieved. You’re so focused on the future; write the next album then tour. Your life is usually mapped out at least two years in advance.”

Ogden says “Ode To NYC” is “a love letter to my favorite city, as well as my wife,” while "Everything About You" is “as honest as they come.”

Then there's “Visions,” referencing the singer's age. 

"At 23 I had just had a number 1 album and begun my relationship with my now wife Katie. Reflecting on what I’d achieved at such a young age left me wondering, what now?”

Blossoms are currently gearing up to play a series of live shows and festivals in the UK this summer as well as a run of support dates with The Killers. North American tour plans for the Stockport five-piece are currently in the works following successful headline runs in 2019 and 2017 -- including critically acclaimed appearances at Coachella Festival in California and Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Stay up to date on all Blossoms live dates by visiting www.blossomsband.co.uk/tour/.

Blossoms' 2016 debut ‘Blossoms’ topped the UK album charts for two consecutive weeks and went on to earn the band BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations, while 2018’s ‘Cool Like You’ charted at Number 4 in the UK album charts.

Third studio album, 2020’s ‘Foolish Loving Spaces,’ was the band’s second UK Number 1 album and following the release of In Isolation/Live From The Plaza Theatre, Stockport in 2020, the band have now had four top 5 albums in the UK.

“Ribbon Around The Bomb, the album’s title track is out now.

WATCH | LISTEN
“RIBBON AROUND THE BOMB”

PRE-ORDER / SAVE
‘RIBBON AROUND THE BOMB’

The album is out April 29. Pre-order / save HERE

ALBUM TRACK LISTING:

The Writer’s Theme
Ode To NYC
Ribbon Around The Bomb
The Sulking Poet
Born Wild
The Writer
Everything About You
Care For
Cinerama Holy Days
Edith Machinist
Visions
The Last Chapter