Never one to give us up, or let us down, Rick Astley has returned with details of a new album. The English hitmaker will share ninth studio album Are We There Yet? on October 6 via BMG.
Following 2018's Beautiful Life, the 12-track Are We There Yet? is said to be "the sound of Rick reflecting and building upon the experiences he's gone through" since its predecessor's arrival, per a release — and lord knows plenty has happened in this Beautiful Life since then.
While we should note that the album is not a collection of Smiths covers he recently performed at Glastonbury with the Blossoms, some of the material on Are We There Yet? is said to carry the "invigoration" the artist felt during that performance, or during performances on a sold-out arena tour of North America alongside New Kids on the Block, Salt 'N' Pepa and En Vogue.
Astley shares of the album title in a statement, "Now, that phrase has multiple meanings. Are we there yet in my musical ambitions? Am I done with my career? Have we arrived? Or are we still travelling?"
It's travelling that Astley gets up to in a new video for album opener "Dippin My Feet," which you can view down below. In the video, the artist, backup singers and drummer are able to move from the country to the city and back again with a little technological assistance.
"It's not Americana, but the tagline at the start of the chorus is: 'Dipping my feet in the Mississippi River...' It's definitely not country, but I've never twanged a guitar as much as I have in the past couple of months," Astley shares of his latest. "And there's a bit more emotion with those guitar parts. I just think spending five months in America has retuned my ear a little bit."
Like Beautiful Life, Are We There Yet? was entirely written, recorded, and produced by Astley at his home studio in southwest London. The album is now available for pre-order.
Are We There Yet?:
1. Dippin My Feet
2. Letting Go
3. Golden Hour
4. Never Gonna Stop
5. Close (Your Shoes)
6. High Enough
7. Forever and More
8. Driving Me Crazy
9. Maria Love
10. Take Me Back to Your Place
11. Waterfall
12. Blue Sky
Following 2018's Beautiful Life, the 12-track Are We There Yet? is said to be "the sound of Rick reflecting and building upon the experiences he's gone through" since its predecessor's arrival, per a release — and lord knows plenty has happened in this Beautiful Life since then.
While we should note that the album is not a collection of Smiths covers he recently performed at Glastonbury with the Blossoms, some of the material on Are We There Yet? is said to carry the "invigoration" the artist felt during that performance, or during performances on a sold-out arena tour of North America alongside New Kids on the Block, Salt 'N' Pepa and En Vogue.
Astley shares of the album title in a statement, "Now, that phrase has multiple meanings. Are we there yet in my musical ambitions? Am I done with my career? Have we arrived? Or are we still travelling?"
It's travelling that Astley gets up to in a new video for album opener "Dippin My Feet," which you can view down below. In the video, the artist, backup singers and drummer are able to move from the country to the city and back again with a little technological assistance.
"It's not Americana, but the tagline at the start of the chorus is: 'Dipping my feet in the Mississippi River...' It's definitely not country, but I've never twanged a guitar as much as I have in the past couple of months," Astley shares of his latest. "And there's a bit more emotion with those guitar parts. I just think spending five months in America has retuned my ear a little bit."
Like Beautiful Life, Are We There Yet? was entirely written, recorded, and produced by Astley at his home studio in southwest London. The album is now available for pre-order.
Are We There Yet?:
1. Dippin My Feet
2. Letting Go
3. Golden Hour
4. Never Gonna Stop
5. Close (Your Shoes)
6. High Enough
7. Forever and More
8. Driving Me Crazy
9. Maria Love
10. Take Me Back to Your Place
11. Waterfall
12. Blue Sky