(Photo Credit: Sandra Vijandi)
Dexys today release the title track from their eagerly anticipated new album The Feminine Divine. The album comes out July 28th on 100% Records.
In ‘The Feminine Divine’, the central character in the album narrative starts to really take stock of his life and his attitude towards women. His clarity is such that it’s as if he has been hit with a bolt of lightning. Listen to ‘The Feminine Divine’ HERE.
“After stating his original macho position in the opening track ‘The One That Loves You;’ then admitting that it was a phoney position in the second song ‘It's Alright Kevin;’ subsequently committing himself to change in track three, ‘I'm Going To Get Free;’ and feeling he’s moving forward in track four, ‘Coming Home;’ the protagonist now examines his relationship with women in ‘The Feminine Divine.’ He's hit with the realisation that his attitude and actions have been completely wrong,” Kevin Rowland said of the track.
"Overcome with regret and at last glimpsing how women might actually feel, the man gets honest and admits how afraid of women he has been, and how fear has driven so many of his actions. He now sees and acknowledges women’s inherent power: if anything, women are superior; they are goddesses. He sincerely pledges to be different in the future.”
"In the track that follows, ‘My Goddess Is’, the protagonist then enters into a relationship in a completely different way to how he would have in the past. But that's a whole other part of the story..."
The track follows the album’s glorious first single, ‘I’m Going To Get Free’. Watch the video HERE.
The Feminine Divine is Dexys’ fifth album of original material produced once again by Pete Schwier, along with acclaimed session musician and producer Toby Chapman. After taking some time out to refocus his energy, Kevin Rowland came back to music with a fresh perspective and new-found positivity. A personal, if not strictly autobiographical, record portraying a man whose views have evolved over time. Not just on women, but the whole concept of masculinity he had been raised with: an education and an un-learning that is traced across the arc of The Feminine Divine with dizzying effect.
The record’s first act is full of music hall-esque swagger, much of it written with original Dexys’ trombonist Big Jim Paterson. The second half of the musical narrative is like nothing Dexys have done before. A saucy, synth-heavy cabaret, written in collaboration with Sean Read and Mike Timothy. It’s steamy, fizzing and sultry, at times heavy and at other times raunchy and funky. Quite a heady mix.
With over a billion worldwide streams, three top 10 albums in the UK, two number 1 singles, a Brit Award and a multi-platinum selling album with their sophomore release Too-Rye-Ay (as Dexys Midnight Runners), Dexys are as vital and exciting today as ever. The Feminine Divine marks a new chapter in a book that just keeps getting better and better.
Dexys play the following UK and Ireland dates in September 2023, before embarking on a full European tour in October. Tickets on-sale HERE.
September:
Tue 5th York, Barbican
Thu 7th Liverpool, Philharmonic
Fri 8th Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Sun 10th Newcastle, O2 City Hall
Mon 11th Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Wed 13th Cardiff, St David’s Hall
Thu 14th Ipswich, Regent Theatre
Sat 16th Wolverhampton, The Halls
Sun 17th Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Tue 19th Brighton, Dome
Wed 20th London, Palladium
Fri 22nd Bath, Forum
Mon 25th Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre