It took Johnny Marr some 30 years of playing with The Smiths and an assortment of other bands before he finally ventured out on his own and released a solo album, last year’s The Messenger. Luckily, Marr isn’t waiting nearly as long for the follow-up. Entitled Playland, Marr’s sophomore solo record is due out October 6th via Warner Bros.
According to a press release, Marr began work on the 11-track album as soon as he had completed The Messenger. “When The Messenger came out I kept on writing,” Marr said in a statement. “I liked that the band had a momentum going on tour and a connection with the audience, and I thought that energy would be good to capture on the new record.” Recording took place earlier this spring in a London studio alongside collaborator and co-producer Doviak.
Marr said that he drew inspiration from the 1938 book Homo Ludens, which explores the concept of cultural development, and from the actual city of London. “It’s important to sound like your environment and on this record that’s London and Manchester,” he said. “The feeling of the cities and the people make it into the music.”
The press release explains that Playland involves a theme of “songs that move at the speed of life”, adding that the LP captures “the spirit that made The Messenger so memorable with energetic, post-punk songwriting complemented by Johnny Marr’s characteristic guitar style, thought-provoking lyrical ideas, and poised vocal phrasing.”
Pre-orders for the album are ongoing.

原声带的总舵手交由大师级的汉斯季默(Hans Zimmer)负责，入选英国「每日电讯报The Daily Telegraph」之「全球百大天才」名单，抱回4座葛莱美奖、3座全英古典音乐、2座金球奖、1座奥斯卡奖加冕。除了汉斯之外，还有黄金梦幻六人组The Magnificent Six参与盛会，包括：身拥7座葛莱美、极具商业头脑的Pharrell Williams+曾是The Smiths、Modest Mouse团员的Johnny Marr+美式另类摇滚团Incubus吉他手Michael Einziger+电音舞曲界鬼才Junkie XL+汉斯旗下子弟兵Andrew Kawczynski和Steve Mazzaro等来自各界人才组织而成！
此张豪华双碟版，纯配乐的CD1：串连起古典的交响乐章，以及电子、摇滚两大重要元素配置，针对追逐猎杀、激烈爆破、营造悬疑氛围等场景，加强节奏性的刺激听觉感官。CD2则收藏全部超过十分钟的〈The Electro Suite〉和〈Harry’s Suite〉，前者是撼动人心的澎湃之作，後者则充满诡谲黯黑氛围。主题曲〈It’s On Again〉，请到缔造全球7500万销量的葛莱美钢琴天后Alicia Keys，外加西岸饶舌教父Dr. Dre旗下秘密武器Kendrick Lamar对唱，导入R&B/Soul/Funk和街头Hip-Hop强烈律动，势必将轰动国际排行榜；独立界才子Matthew Houck化身Phosphorescent所演绎〈Song For Zula〉，回荡颓圮且凄美的音乐图像；Pharrell Williams也下海高歌一曲〈Here〉，放弃拿手放克摇摆舞曲，反而献上吉他与弦乐伴唱、合音优美的抒情极品；异军突起的Indie Rock新贵The Neighbourhood，交出令人惊艳的混搭新作〈Honest〉；亚洲版特别追加时尚舞后萧亚轩加盟SONY Music的最新力作〈Trigger To The Thunder Of Love〉，冲出时髦的Dubstep潮流电气声响，最狂野的派对之歌就此一触即发！

Johnny Marr has announced his participation in this year's Record Store Day – which takes place worldwide on April 18 – with a limited-edition 7". The A-side features a cover of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You", which Marr and his band performed last December while on his (later cancelled) tour; listen to it above. The B-side, on the other hand, contains a live performance of the Smiths classic “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”.