Simple Minds news

I interviewed Jim for the last album (see elsewhere on this blog), so I'm really excited about the new material...

Simple Minds have released “Vision Thing” - the first track to be taken from the band’s eighteenth studio album Direction Of The Heart. It is scheduled for release October 21 via BMG.

Currently playing shows throughout Europe, Direction Of The Heart is Simple Minds’ first album of new material since 2018’s UK Top 5 album Walk Between Worlds.

‘Vision Thing’ has music written by guitarist Charlie Burchill and lyrics by frontman Jim Kerr, who pays tribute to his “best pal” and late father. 

Most of Direction Of The Heart’s tracks were created and demoed in Sicily, where both Kerr and Burchill live. Unable to come to the UK because of quarantine rules, the album was recorded at Hamburg’s Chameleon Studios.

Here they produced the album - later enlisting Andy Wright (Massive Attack, Echo & The Bunnymen) and Gavin Goldberg for additional production. Band members, bassist Ged Grimes (who co-wrote two of the new songs, ‘First You Jump’ and ‘Solstice Kiss’), drummer Cherisse Osei and vocalist Sarah Brown joined them on some of the tracks, recording their parts separately in London.

Album guests include Sparks’ frontman Russell Mael (‘Human Traffic’) and songwriter and former Grimes music partner from Danny Wilson, Gary Clark (‘Vision Thing’, ‘First You Jump’ and ‘Natural’), recorded their respective parts in home studios.

Jim Kerr on Direction Of The Heart:

“How to make a feel-good ‘Electro-rock’ record, during the very worst of times? Direction Of The Heart is the result of that challenge. Who would have thought we’d have so much fun creating it?”

Track listing: 

1. Vision Thing 

2. First You Jump

3. Human Traffic

4. Who Killed Truth?

5. Solstice Kiss

6. Act of Love

7. Natural

8. Planet Zero

9. The Walls Came Down

Deluxe version bonus tracks:

10. Direction of the Heart (Taormina 2022)

11. Wondertimes