Ash have announced their next album will be their last.
‘Twilight of the Innocents’, their sixth original long-player, is set for release on July 2nd. After this they will only issue singles.
The international rock band said their radical decision reflects the digital future of music. Famously known for their proactive use of the internet they now plan to write, record and release their music instantly.
Frontman Tim Wheeler commented: “The way people listen to music has changed, with the advent of the download the emphasis has reverted to single tracks. It hasn't helped that most people have forgotten how to make a decent album. I'm constantly disappointed with records I buy.
"I believe our new album is the pinnacle of everything we've done thus far, and I'm proud that this will be remembered as our last album. The future lies elsewhere and we can have a lot of fun by changing things up. It's like the Wild West at the moment, a time to take chances and try out new ideas.
"When you're tied to the album format, you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it. By leaving this behind we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity. We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it's fresh. We're the first band to do this, but I very much doubt we'll be the last.
"We've been one of the best singles bands of the last two decades and we're still younger than a lot of bands on the current scene. I’m excited to push this claim further by dedicating ourselves wholly to the art of the single for the digital age."
Ash play four consecutive nights at Koko in Camden commencing July 3rd, then headline the Radio 1 stage at Reading (Friday) and Leeds (Saturday)
Single ‘Polaris’ is released on June 18th.
