Blondie continue to claim 2017 as their own with the release of their new single ‘Long Time’ - taken from their 11th studio album Pollinator - out May 5th.
‘Long Time’ is the third offering from this remarkable new album, once again perfectly demonstrating the record’s blend of Blondie’s pioneering past with new influences from modern music’s great innovators.
The track also reignites a winning formula of Debbie Harry and collaborator Dev Hynes (AKA Blood Orange). In 2016, Debbie sang on ‘Rapture’-inspired ‘E.V.P.’ on Hynes’s third album, Freetown Sound. Now Hynes is returning the favour by collaborating with the band on ‘Long Time’, a song that pays tribute to Blondie’s 20th Century trailblazing while sounding thrillingly at home in a 21st Century pop landscape.
From the first note, the track channels a deliberate echo of their 1979 anthem ‘Heart of Glass’, before lifting off with a swirling mix of Clem Burke’s intense drumming, glorious 80s synth, Chris Stein’s funky guitar riffs and thumping bassline of Leigh Foxx – all bound together by the bittersweet vocals of Debbie Harry.
The single follows the first two releases from Pollinator; the upbeat Studio 54-esque single ‘Fun’ co-written by Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio), and the dark, alluring track ‘My Monster’, written for the band by The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.
Like its two Pollinator predecessors, ‘Long Time’ showcases an album made with an enviable series of collaborators, elegantly moulding their love of Blondie with their own sound.
The first play of ‘Long Time’ was on BBC Radio 2 Ken Bruce yesterday morning (21st March). The track will available to stream, download and as an Instant Grat from 22nd March.
From 24th March 1000 7" copies of ‘Long Time’ will be available to buy via independent retailers, backed with 'The Breaks', a brand new track written by Chris Stein and Debbie Harry in the album sessions at New York's famed recording studio The Magic Shop, before its closure.
The video for 'Long Time' was shot in New York City and is directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, who worked with Beyonce on her Lemonade album videos and World Formation Tour. Dikayl also directed the ‘Fun’ video, and the new video for ‘Long Time’ will be released in April.
The band recently announced a return to the iconic Roundhouse in London on May 3rd to celebrate the release two days later of their remarkable new album Pollinator. Tickets for the show sold out in 30 minutes.
Available to preorder now on CD, Cassette, Heavyweight vinyl, Ltd 7" box set. Pollinator is also available as a heavyweight white vinyl via selected indie stores and heavy weight red vinyl via the artist store.