Pretenders channel their classic sound on their brand new track A Love.
Lifted from the band’s upcoming LP, ‘Relentless’, the single follows their star-studded Glastonbury set, which featured appearances from Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.
Of the tune, Chrissie Hynde says: “I suppose that’s the most traditionally Pretenders-sounding song on the album, in the vein of Kid or Talk of the Town or any of the mid-tempo ones over the years.
“I often see love/relationships almost in the same vein as drug addiction. Although, having said that, I know I am jaded, and cynical… The Buzz on Hate For Sale visited the same theme.”
Listen to A Love below.
Clocking in at 12-tracks, ‘Relentless’ marks the second time that the group has written an album as a collaboration between frontwoman Chrissie and guitarist James Walbourne, and is their first to be released via Warner Brothers – the parent company of Parlophone – since 1999.
Discussing its title, Chrissie says: “I enjoy seeing the various meanings and origins of a word. And I liked the definition: ‘showing no abatement of intensity.’ So when it came to an album title, it seemed fitting. You know… to keep doing it.
Pretenders are excited to announce their brand new album 'Relentless'! Out 1st Sept 2023
— The Pretenders (@ThePretendersHQ) May 11, 2023
The first single 'Let The Sun Come In' is available to stream and download now.https://t.co/nIUhjsfCP4
Photo: @KiPricePhoto pic.twitter.com/gFHD8dSJqB
“I think anyone in a band is constantly questioning if they should keep going. It starts as a youthful pursuit and eventually, it makes you wonder, why am I doing this? It’s the life of the artist. You never retire. You become relentless.”
The record is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Hate For Sale’ and was conceived and recorded much in the same way.
“We had developed this method of working remotely and it seemed like we just kept on doing it for this album,” she adds. “This is something that we’ve honed down to an art in the last few years.
“[James Walbourne] always comes up with something I wouldn’t have thought of myself and I love surprises.”
Alongside lead single Let the Sun Come In, out now, ‘Relentless’ also includes a collaboration with composer Jonny Greenwood, who appears on the album’s closing track, I Think About You Daily.
‘Relentless’ is out September 1 via Parlophone.
Tracklist: The Pretenders – Relentless
1. Losing My Sense Of Taste
2. A Love
3. Domestic Silence
4. The Copa
5. Promise Of Love
6. Merry Widow
7. Let The Sun Come In
8. Look Away
9. Your House Is On Fire
10. Just Let It Go
11. Vainglorious
12. I Think About You Daily
Buy ‘Relentless’ on CD and Vinyl.