Model Copy

As History: The Singles 85-91's title makes plain, this compilation bundles up all the group's singles released between these dates. 1985 was a turning point for the band, the year New Model Army relocated from the indie Abstract label to the majors and EMI. Thus fans will obviously have to look elsewhere for their earlier singles, particularly the ferocious "Vengeance," the best of their pre-EMI releases. But the six years bundled up here were just as stellar. The group released a dozen singles during this period, and the A-sides all appear here in chronological order, kicking off with the blind fury of "No Rest," down into the bitter irony of "51st State," through the desolation of science gone insane of "White Coats," across the outcasts' anthem of "Vagabonds," into the nostalgic valleys of "Green and Grey," diving into the barely suppressed rage of "Purity," and ending live in "Space." Americans may be surprised to find that every single one of New Model Army's singles charted in the U.K., albeit outside the Top 25. But that's a moot point; while Britain was in the midst of a Tory revolution that turned much of England's innate culture to dust (Scotland, Wales, and Ulster remained more immutable to their efforts), New Model Army soldiered on, a voice raging in the wilderness.

New Model Army are a band who continue to thrive outside of any singular genre. Throughout their long and storied career, they have taken the road less travelled, shunning fame and instead, with each successive album, pushing boundaries of creativity. It is the same music-first approach that has led to this year’s “Sinfonia”. Recorded at Tempodrom, Berlin on July 15th 2022, with Sinfonia Leipzig and conducted by Cornelius During, it may seem like an obvious evolution, however, in true New Model Army style they have broken the barriers between band and orchestra, redefining that relationship and defying expectation. All songs have been arranged for orchestra by long-time friend and guest violinist Shir-Ran Yinon, who, in collaboration with the band, created something unique but staying true to New Model Army.

For more than 35 years, UK’s New Model Army rock the world with unending consistency. A band that built their fame with monumental records like Vengeance (1984), No rest for The Wicked (1985), Thunder and Consolation (1989), The Love of Hopeless Causes (1993), and all the way up to 2016’s Winter, they’re a group that have rocked audiences from the stage thousands of times and will (hopefully) never stop doing what they know best: perform live and publish their manifesto. Excellent and loud rock music with lyrics for thought by Justin Sullivan. Whether it’s punk or post-punk or alternative rock, NMA always have a very good product for the public, and this time they announced a revolutionary two-night event at the Round Chapel in Hackney, London, April 13 and 14, 2018.

Spanish Model tells the story of what happens to a seminal album (This Year’s Model) recorded 42 years ago when it is reinterpreted with new voices in another language. This is a story of transformation, adaptation, reflection; a mash-up of language, geography, culture, and passion. How past / present and time / space can partner with music/talent to reimagine a completely new work – Spanish Model. Elvis Costello’s This Year’s Model is reinterpreted all in Spanish with 19 of today’s top Latin artists (Luis Fonsi, Sebastian Yatra, Juanes, and many more) representing a total of 9 countries. The lyrics have been precisely translated to have the featured Latin artists sing to the original multis.