Track Of The Day: Manic Street Preachers - 'Europa Geht Durch Mich'

It seems that after a few disappointing efforts in the last decade or so, the Manics have decided to stop repeating themselves and start proving that the world needs them to carry on. Their revitalisation began with last year's beautifully introspective 'Rewind the Film' and continues with the upcoming 'Futurology', an album which is, without a doubt, their biggest surprise yet. When it entered my CD player on Wednesday night, what followed was 47 minutes of a band rediscovering their need to develop. Not "keeping up with the times" or following trends, but carving out a new path for themselves. It's fair to say that I didn't take to 'Futurology' on the first listen, in fact I was wondering what the hell they were thinking, especially with the oriental flavoured ballad 'Divine Youth' and the bizarre kraut-funk cop show instrumental 'Dreaming A City (Hugheskova)'. Be warned, you will NOT warm to it straight away. Also, don't be fooled by talk of it being "The Holy Bible's bedfellow". Although it's their darkest offering in a long time, but ultimately more like a hybrid of Simple Minds, Berlin-era Bowie, and Magazine. Sometimes the contributions from the guest vocalists seem somewhat ill fitting, but you have to admire the Manics for trying out different approaches. Featuring vocals from German film star Nina Voss, 'Europa Geht Durch Mich' might take a few plays to bury itself into your headspace, but makes one hell of an impact when it does, an abrasive industrial stomp complete with screeching siren guitars and a heavy thudding power. It's the sort of thing that would make Nigel Farage shit his pants. 'Futurology' is out on July 7, and a full review will be coming to RW/FF over the coming days...