The Concretes Ready Sophomore Album

The follow-up to the Concretes' self-titled 2004 LP, In Colour was put to tape in a pair of unlikely, albeit intriguing, twin cities-- Stockholm, Sweden and Omaha, Nebraska-- with production duties helmed by Bright Eyes/Rilo Kiley/Cursive producer Mike Mogis.

While we imagine the final product won't stray too far from the sugar-spun tunes the indie-pop confectioners are known for, a press release for the album went boasts that "In Colour is classic Americana and Southern Soul rerouted via Northern Europe. Evocative of a line of records that veers between Dusty in Memphis and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours through to Cat Power's The Greatest and Bright Eyes' I'm Wide Awake It's Morning."

Which can only mean one thing: The Concretes have hired Terence Trent D'Arby as their publicist.

Anyhoo, In Colour features lead vocals from guitarist Maria Eriksson and drummer Lisa Milberg for the first time, with the latter duetting with the Magic Numbers' Romeo Stodart on "Your Call".

The full tracklist:

01 On the Radio
02 Sunbeams
03 Change in the Weather
04 Chosen One
05 Your Call
06 Fiction
07 Tomorrow
08 As Four
09 Grey Days
10 A Way of Life
11 Ooh La La
12 Song for the Songs

The album's first single, "Chosen One", is due out on CD and 7" February 27 in the UK. The song is backed by "Reverberation" and "Postpone It".

A handful of live dates have also recently been announced in support of the album, with the Concretes hitting up six UK cities in mid-February. A more robust schedule is expected to be announced post-album release. The current lineup:

02-15 Bournemouth, England - The Old Fire Station *
02-16 London, England - Brixton Academy #%
02-18 Liverpool, England - Liverpool Academy 3 $
02-19 Wolves, England - Wolves Civic Hall #
02-20 Edinburgh, Scotland - Edinburgh Corn Exchange #
02-21 Blackpool, England - Blackpool Empress Ballroom #
02-22 London, England - Scala

* with M Craft
# with Magic Numbers
% Shout Out Louds
$ with Jim Noir

The Concretes: http://www.theconcretes.com/