Johnny Marr + The Healers’ sole album ‘Boomslang’ to be reissued with unheard songs
Johnny Marr has announced details of a reissue of his 2003 album with The Healers, ‘Boomslang’, which will feature previously unheard material. Find out more below.
First released by Marr and The Healers back in 2003, the album will now be offered in its entirety for the first time in over two decades. It will arrive on September 20 via BMG and can be pre-ordered here.
“‘Boomslang’ represents a unique snapshot of Johnny Marr’s creativity at the dawn of the 21st century. Leaning into new technology, experimenting with new ways to write, record and think,” reads a description of the LP.
“Marr first met drummer Zak Starkey following a Who concert at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1999. Former Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan joined the pair later, following a recommendation from Noel Gallagher. Percussionist Liz Bonney emerged from Byron Bay with Lee Spencer’s rainforest synth wizardry in tow. Adam Gray summoned his slide guitar for the ‘Electro-Cosmic-Blues’ and, united by chemistry and cosmic energy, the Healers came into existence.”
Along with the 11 songs featured on the original tracklist, the 2024 reissue will also include new and previously unheard material recorded by the band around the time of the release.
In total, there are seven previously unreleased recordings featured on the 21st anniversary edition, including tracks titled ‘The Way That It Was’, ‘Get Me Wrong’ and ‘A Woman Like You’. A cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right’ is also featured, as is a union mix of ‘You Are The Magic’, an instrumental version of ‘Get Me Wrong’ and an expansive desert jam called ‘All Out Attack’. Check out the latter above.
“We holed ourselves up in our own otherworld and experimented with different ways to write, record and think; guitars and percussion all together in a room, and programming with new technology from the electronic scene. Everything was about discovery,” Marr said, looking back at the time working on the LP.
“Twenty years on, I’m pleased we created the music and this new release of Boomslang has given me the opportunity to revisit it and present some songs that we weren’t able to include the first time around. The Healers was something special that happened to me and I’m grateful that it did. A special group of people in a special moment in time.”
The 2024 edition of ‘Boomslang’ will be released in digital and physical formats, and is re-mastered by original engineer, Frank Arkwright. Find the full tracklist below and visit here to pre-order the album.
‘Boomslang’ Original Tracklist:
‘The Last Ride’
‘Caught Up’
‘Down On The Corner’
‘Need It’
‘You Are The Magic’
‘InBetweens’
‘Another Day’
‘Headland’
‘Long Gone’
‘Something To Shout About’
‘Bangin’ On’
‘Boomslang’ 2024 Previously Unreleased Songs:
‘The Way That It Was’
‘All Out Attack’
‘Get Me Wrong’
‘Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right’
‘A Woman Like You’
‘You Are The Magic (Union Mix)’
‘Get Me Wrong (Instrumental Version)’
News of the re-release arrives as Johnny Marr continues his ‘Spirit Power Tour’ throughout the summer, which has already seen him embark on a sold-out UK headline tour and performances at the Isle of Wight Festival, Sea Sessions, Forest Live and Lytham Festival.
Up next, he will perform a huge homecoming show at Wythenshawe Park with New Order in August ahead of touring across North America with James through September. Visit here for remaining tickets.
Johnny Marr’s most recent solo album, ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1-4’, arrived in 2022.
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Liberty Dunworth
NME
