Britpop (album)

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Britpop
Studio album by
A. G. Cook
ReleasedMay 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)
GenreElectronic
Length99:43
LabelNew Alias
ProducerA. G. Cook
A. G. Cook chronology
Apple vs. 7G
(2021) 		Britpop
(2024)
Singles from Britpop
  1. "Silver Thread Golden Needle"
    Released: 1 January 2024
  2. "Britpop"
    Released: 23 Februrary 2024
  3. "Soulbreaker"
    Released: 17 April 2024

Britpop is the upcoming third studio album by English music producer A. G. Cook. The album is slated for release 10 May 2024, via New Alias.[1][2][3]

It arrives 5 months after the announcement that Cook's label PC Music would cease to release any new material. Similarly to his debut album 7G, the album is split into three separate discs that represent the past, present and future of Cook's artistry.

The album was supported by the singles "Silver Thread Golden Needle",[4] the title track,[5] and "Soulbreaker".[6]

Background and release[edit]

Some of the material from Britpop was teased in mixes before the album's release, such as tracks "Soulbreaker"[7] and "Equine".[8]

Conception of the album began in 2020, while Cook lived in Montana with his partner Alaska Reid during COVID-19 lockdowns, stating "I was the only British person there and having that sense of being a bit of an alien... So a way of digging into what an A. G. Cook album could be was to use this as a strange launching pad, finding this thing that’s slightly too loaded."[9]

Cook released "Silver Thread Golden Needle" 1 January 2024.[10] The song was previously premiered in 2021 at Eckhaus Latta's Spring 2022 New York showcase.[11]

Britpop was announced alongside the release of the title track on 23 February.[5] In a press release, Cook explained the album's ethos:[12]

"I’ve joked in the past about this sort of British invasion that goes back to Beatlemania. It’s always been interesting to me that so many PC Music artists, even if they’re still based in the UK, have really resonated with different US subcultures and even the mainstream pop songwriters out here. So many aspects of the American frontier are referencing some imported mythic idea of British history, and that’s just the beginning. I’ve also really committed to some of those associations myself, growing up with a Beatles haircut and calling my album Apple. I’ve always enjoyed finding those funny connections that expose how confusing and multifaceted culture is across all these lanes — and exploiting those coincidences."

Cook additionally teased the track list on TikTok in late March.[13] Cook also launched the sites Witchfork, Wandcamp, and Wheatport as an alternate reality project that parodied Pitchfork, Bandcamp, and Beatport.

"Soulbreaker" was released as a single on 17 April, alongside an animated music video directed by Gustaf Holtenäs.[6] Cook also began a 3-week residency at NTS Radio on 22 April to explore the album's distinct 'past, present, and future' sections.[14]

Music and lyrics[edit]

The 'Present' disc features mostly "delicate, close-mic vocal" guitar-oriented tracks. The final track on this disc "Without" is an ode to the late producer Sophie, one of Cook's closest friends and collaborators.[9] The track is built around a "melodic nod" to her breakout single "Bipp".[12]

Track listing[edit]

Disc one: Past
No.TitleLength
1."Silver Thread Golden Needle"9:56
2."Britpop"3:22
3."You Know Me"4:07
4."Prismatic"3:49
5."Crescent Sun"4:05
6."Heartache"4:35
7."Television"3:27
8."Luddite Factory Operator"6:38
Total length:39:59
Disc two: Present
No.TitleLength
1."Serenade"2:58
2."Nice to Meet You"3:04
3."The Weave"4:07
4."Green Man"2:57
5."Crone"2:59
6."Greatly"3:04
7."Bewitched"3:19
8."Without"2:40
Total length:25:08
Disc three: Future
No.TitleLength
1."Soulbreaker"3:54
2."Lucifer"3:19
3."Emerald"4:44
4."Butterfly Craft"1:59
5."Equine"3:41
6."WWW"5:17
7."Pink Mask"4:47
8."Out of Time"6:55
Total length:34:36

Notes

  • "Silver Thread Golden Needle" contains samples from "Show Me What" from Cook's 7G album.
  • "Britpop" interpolates "Lipgloss" by Charli XCX.

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Richards, Will (27 February 2024). "A. G. Cook announces new album 'Britpop' with Charli XCX-featuring title track". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ Corcoran, Nina (23 February 2024). "A. G. Cook Announces New Album Britpop, Enlists Charli XCX for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. ^ "A.G. Cook announces new album, shares "Britpop" with Charli XCX". The FADER. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ^ Duran, Anagricel (3 January 2024). "A.G. Cook shares sputtering new single 'Silver Thread Golden Needle'". NME. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "A. G. Cook Announces New Album 'Britpop': Listen To Title Track Featuring Charli XCX". Stereogum. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Ingle, Alex (17 April 2024). "A. G. Cook continues to tease his 24-track epic Britpop with latest offering, 'Soulbreaker'". Dork. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Dream Logic". SoundCloud. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. ^ 10. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b Cragg, Michael (26 April 2024). "'People think I hate pop': super-producer AG Cook on working with Beyoncé and honouring his friend Sophie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ Nast, Condé (1 January 2024). "A. G. Cook Shares New Song "Silver Thread Golden Needle"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  11. ^ ECKHAUS LATTA Spring 2022 New York - Fashion Channel. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ a b "A. G. Cook and Charli XCX's New Single "Britpop": Stream". 23 February 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  13. ^ https://www.tiktok.com/@agcook404/video/7351175762059316512. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via TikTok. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ Radio, N. T. S. "A. G. Cook - Britpop Past 22nd April 2024". NTS Radio. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
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