Blossoms reveal details of new album ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’, share title track

Blossoms have returned, sharing details of their new album – ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’.

The Stockport five-piece – made up of lead vocalist Tom Ogden, bassist Charlie Salt, guitarist Josh Dewhurst, drummer Joe Donovan and keyboardist Myles Kellock – had teased that new music was on the way on Monday (January 24) and then unveiled details of their new album, together with its title track, yesterday (January 25).

It will be Blossoms‘ fourth album and is set for release on April 29. You can pre-order and pre-save it here.

Speaking about the album’s title track, Ogden said: “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.”

You can check out the title track below in a video that’s been directed by Arctic Monkeys’ artistic director, Edwin Burdis.

Ogden went on to explain that the album is based around a central character called ‘The Writer’. He explained: “The more songs I wrote, the more I realised 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,” he added.

The group were recently forced to postpone their European tour due to ongoing concerns around COVID-19.

In a statement, Blossoms said at the time: “We’re really gutted to have to that, due to the current situation with COVID, our forthcoming dates in Germany, France, Belgium and Netherlands have been postponed and will no longer be happening in January and February.”

They hope to “reschedule the dates and will announce as soon as possible as we have the news”.

Blossoms are, however, playing a series of live shows in the UK this summer, including headline appearances at Y Not? and Truck Festival, as well as a run of support dates with The Killers.

Full details on Blossoms live dates in 2022 can be found here.

‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’ Tracklist:

‘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’