‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’ is the 3rd single from Ensoulment, THE THE’s first studio album in a quarter century. Co-produced by Matt Johnson and Warne Livesey, the album is released on Cinéola / earMUSIC next Friday, 6th September 2024.
It is a song Matt Johnson had been trying to write for many years but never managed to finish – until last year. It belongs to the family of songs he has written about London, including ‘Perfect’, ‘Flesh & Bones’, ‘Heartland’, ‘The Beat(en) Generation’, ‘Helpline Operator’, ‘Pillar Box Red’ and others.
The song features Matt Johnson on vocals and acoustic guitar; Barrie Cadogan on electric guitar and backing vocals; DC Collard on keyboards; James Eller on bass; Earl Harvin on drums; Sonya Cullingford on fiddle; Gillian Glover on backing vocals.
“I have often drank my coffee by the grave of William Blake – though these days there are actually two gravestones dedicated to him in the small dissenters’ cemetery that he was thrown into when he died. On and off over the last 40 years I have lived close by and have always found it an inspiring place to sit and meditate upon life. Nostalgia is part of the human condition and change is inevitable in our lives and in the world around us. Large capital cities such as London often amplify the sense of change, although one thing that never seems to change is the cynicism of those in power.”
-Matt Johnson
The NEW MUSIC VIDEO for ‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’ features all band members and was directed by Tim Pope, edited by Vicki Bennett (People Like Us), with Anya Krasnikova as Director of Photography.
The B-sides for all Ensoulment singles have been composed, performed and produced by Matt Johnson especially for each limited edition 7” vinyl. In this case, the B-side, ‘Frozen Clouds’ will also feature in the soundtrack for director Gerard Johnson’s forthcoming film, Odyssey.
Additionally, the single cover features a previously unpublished work of Matt Johnson’s late brother Andrew (AKA artist Andy Dog) who, over the years, was very much responsible for the distinctive aesthetic style of THE THE’s releases.
The single is digitally released on 29th August and available as a limited edition 7” vinyl single from 30th August.
Listen to ‘Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake’ HERE