The Mekons: Deserted

British folk-punk collective the Mekons will release a new album Deserted (PRE-ORDER HERE) on March 29. It is their first formal studio album since 2011's Ancient & Modern.

Emboldened by a sold-out tour and a surge of interest in the States after the release of the documentary Revenge of the Mekons, the Mekons retreated to the fringes of Joshua Tree National Park and popular culture to record the new work.

"There are deserts everywhere," singer/guitarist Jon Langford said. "We took time to ponder the vastness and the weirdness of the desert. Going to the country to get your head together is a ripe old rock cliché. We went to the desert to have our brains scoured. We went from one desert to another - a more hopeful place where we arm ourselves with spikes and endure."

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Here's the opening track and video, "Lawrence of California."

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Track listing:

Lawrence of California
Harar 1883
Into the Sun
How Many Stars
In the Desert
Mirage
Weimar Vending Machine
Andromeda
After the Rain

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The band will tour extensively throughout Europe in April and the U.S. in July, including a July 14 date at the Hideout in Chicago (tickets).

L-R: Dave Trumfio (bass), Susie Honeyman (violin), Jon Langford (vocals/guitar), Steve Goulding (drums), Rico Bell (accordion/vocals), Tom Greenhalgh (vocals/guitar), Lu Edmonds (saz, cumbus, oud), Sally Timms (vocals). Photo: Ricky Malpas

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