Peter Perrett to Release New Album ‘The Cleansing’ on November 1st

Peter Perrett is set to release his third solo album, The Cleansing, on November 1st via Domino. This double album will feature 20 tracks, marking Perrett’s continued comeback following his earlier solo works: How The West Was Won (2017) and Humanworld (2019). Perrett’s upcoming album will include contributions from notable musicians such as Johnny Marr, Bobby Gillespie, Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell, and Dream Wife’s Alice Go.

The lead single from the album, “I Wanna Go With Dignity,” is a three-minute, 25-second track that serves as the album’s opening song. This release introduces a new direction and approach for Perrett while retaining his characteristic lyrical tone. The song is dedicated to the late Fiona H Stevenson (also known as Fay Wolftree), and its lyrics are partly inspired by the late journalist David Cavanagh.

The recording of The Cleansing involved Perrett’s regular collaborators, his sons Jamie Perrett (guitar, production) and Peter Perrett Jr. (bass), as well as his live band. Among the album’s notable collaborations, Johnny Marr, Bobby Gillespie, Carlos O’Connell, and Alice Go contributed to several of the tracks. The single “I Wanna Go With Dignity” features Bobby Gillespie and Carlos O’Connell, with Gillespie also appearing in the track’s video, directed by Douglas Hart. On the title track, Gillespie and Hart collaborate, marking their first joint appearance since their work with The Jesus & Mary Chain.

The album explores a variety of themes, including art, addiction, aging, social media, and witch trials. According to Perrett, the album’s subject matter addresses topics such as death, suicide, and depression, though he describes the atmosphere as uplifting, suggesting a sense of recognition and awareness.

In a statement, Perrett reflected on the evolution of his creative process. He noted that he has become more deliberate in his music and lyrical themes, emphasizing love, the human experience, and sentimentality, contrasting with his earlier, more cynical outlook. The creation of The Cleansing involved a more intricate musical arrangement compared to his previous work, expanding beyond his typical minimalist approach.

Peter Perrett first gained prominence with The Only Ones, a new wave band that achieved success between 1976 and 1981. Despite struggles related to substance abuse, Perrett continued to be involved in music, albeit intermittently. He returned to the music scene in the mid-1990s with The One, which was short-lived, and again in 2007 when The Only Ones reunited, focusing on live performances without releasing new material. The release of his debut solo album in 2017 marked Perrett’s return after a nearly 30-year hiatus, followed by the 2019 album Humanworld.

In conjunction with the album release, Perrett will perform an intimate live show at London’s Moth Club in October.

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