The Wedding Present to release new full-length May 20

Legendary UK act The Wedding Present will be releasing its first new full length in over three years on May 20. Titled El Rey, the album was recorded in early 2008 in Chicago by Steve Albini, marking the band’s first record with the noted producer since 1991’s renowned Seamonsters. Manifesto Records will be the U.S. record label.

Written while frontman David Gedge was living in Los Angeles, El Rey burns with West Coast sunlight; Hollywood seen through the eyes of a gritty British Northerner.

Speaking about El Rey in MOJO Magazine recently, Gedge said: “I’ve been living in West Hollywood for the last year or so, and while I’m not going to claim that this is my ‘L.A.’ album, there are some references. I suppose the themes are lust, jealousy, betrayal, regret, obsession, super-heroes… the usual. We chose to record with Steve this time because the new songs were sounding very guitar-ry and quite dark. It’s been good. As you’d imagine, really; Albini knows his stuff.”

TWP returned from an eight-year hiatus in early 2005 with the release of Take Fountain. The long-awaited album brought them back into the spotlight with all the style and sophistication associated with a legendary group, but fans were also pleased to see the band had lost none of the growling angst with which they had burst onto the scene with the 1985 debut, George Best. The band was a favorite of the famed late UK DJ John Peel.

The Wedding Present will be touring North America in the Fall 2008 with the line-up of: David Gedge (guitar and vocals), Terry de Castro (bass), Graeme Ramsay (drums), and Chris McConville (guitar).