GRUFF RHYS - Sadness Sets Me Free - Split Door Sleeve - Blackberry Neo-Neapolitan Coloured Vinyl

Gruff Rhys reveals the upcoming release of his latest album, ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’, under Rough Trade Records. Remarkably, this marks his 25th album in his illustrious 35-year career, spanning individual, collaborative, and band projects. Following 2021’s ‘Seeking New Gods,’ his first solo top-ten record, ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’ promises to captivate listeners with its heady wonders and classic pop sounds.

The lead single, ‘Celestial Candyfloss,’ offers a four-minute glimpse into the album, showcasing sweet melodies carried by soaring strings, blended with the necessary touch of melancholy. Accompanied by a visually stunning video created by long-time collaborator Mark James, the song explores cosmic lengths people travel in pursuit of love and acceptance. Gruff describes it as “an attempted pocket symphony” delving into the themes of cosmic loneliness and sadness.

Gruff and his band, featuring Osian Gwynedd (piano), Huw V Williams (double bass), and Kliph Scurlock (drums), raced from Dunkirk to La Frette Studios near Paris after concluding a tour. In just three days, they tracked ‘Sadness Sets Me Free,’ adding vocals by Kate Stables from This Is The Kit, along with strings and orchestration. Mixed between Marseille and Cardiff, the album is hailed as Gruff’s most accomplished and beautiful work to date.

Throughout his diverse career, Gruff Rhys has explored various landscapes, from the slate-mining towns of Wales to Patagonia's expat communities, the Mandan tribe in North America, and the Tuareg rock groups of the Saharan Desert. Embracing serendipity and chance encounters, Gruff shapes a different-sounding record with each project. ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’ is available on Blackberry Neo-Neapolitan coloured vinyl in a split door sleeve.