Ahead of the UNKLE:REDUX show this Sunday (17th) closing Summer Series at Somerset House, UNKLE announce a new album (release date TBC). The first track ‘Cowboys or Indians’ is out now. It harks back to the records from James Lavelle’s childhood, modernized with help from collaborators Elliott Power, Mïnk & YSÉE.

James adds: “Right back since the beginning I’ve always wanted to make a record that comes from a soul background. For some reason it never happened, so I’ve gone right back to the beginning, like Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines’ or Smith & Mighty, I wanted to give sound system records a modern twist. It’s a nod to my childhood.”

“‘Cowboys or Indians’ was recorded in Berlin, London and Somerset. London is incredibly important to me, I wanted to make a record that is an ode to the past with a foot in modern London. This track comes from more of my hip-hop roots than my most recent records, going back to a similar process to Psyence Fiction. It’s a love letter to London and the music its influenced by.”

“The track looks back to the way I grew up with records as a teenager. When I grew up I was exposed to sound systems, hip-hop, post punk, and acid house. I’ve tried to combine these influences in a modern way, working with young artists such as Elliott Power, YSÉE and Mïnk. Their inspirations have made this record more contemporary. Elliott Power is very English, he’s not a rapper that’s trying to be American. He brings that British multi-cultural feel to the music”

Elliott Power’s new album ‘Once Smitten’ was released in February this year. Elliott Power and Mïnk are part of the new wave of talent coming through James Lavelle’s Mo’wax label. James also worked with collaborator YSÉE in 2015 on the soundtrack to Rick Owens SS16 show.

The song’s cover artwork is designed by internationally rennowned Glasgow based artist Nathan Coley, who’s work also features in the James Lavelle curated exhibition ‘Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick’, showing at Somerset House from 6th July – 24th August 2016.