UNKLE clearly weren't serious about that whole "breaking up" thing. Ten months after declaring on their website that they were finished, the electronic duo have announced another new album – their third this year.
On End Titles ... Redux, UNKLE will revisit seven tracks from End Titles... Stories For Film, a compilation of film songs that was released over the summer. Three new tracks will be added to these revisions, rounding out the collection. All reflect the group's growing interest in orchestral work and collaboration with classical musicians. The songs are "predominantly classical", they said, "to allow a more ambient sound to come through".
Though UNKLE released the first End Titles in July and a B-sides collection in January, in February of this year they were advertising the group's dissolution. "After 10 years as musical collaborators in UNKLE, James Lavelle and Richard File are going their separate ways," their website stated. "[The] decision ... is mutual and amicable."
But like happy – OK, depressed, dystopian – amnesiacs, UNKLE seem to be gamboling on. Mention of the break-up has vanished from their website and there is – dare we say it – a sort of creative vim to the new album announcement.
The album goes on sale on December 15, and while fans can purchase unlimited digital copies there are just 3,000 physical pressings of the album. This "limited edition" includes a 12-page booklet of drawings by Massive Attack's 3D (aka Robert Del Naja). Yes, 12 whole pages! That's the same as six pieces of paper, folded in half!
UNKLE will also be celebrating their togetherness by performing at London's Union Chapel on December 18. They will perform the entirety of Redux, together with the Heritage Orchestra.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/de ... ical-album