Dark Matters (The Stranglers album)

Dark Matters is the eighteenth studio album by British rock band The Stranglers, released on 10 September 2021 through Coursegood.[1] It features the playing of keyboardist Dave Greenfield, who died in 2020.[2] It is also the first studio album recorded without founding drummer Jet Black, who retired from performing with the band in 2015.

Dark Matters
Studio album by
The Stranglers
Released10 September 2021
Length42:55
LabelCoursegood
ProducerLouie Nicastro
The Stranglers chronology
Giants
(2012)		 Dark Matters
(2021)
Singles from Dark Matters
  1. "And If You Should See Dave..."
    Released: 14 May 2021
  2. "If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might As Well Be Love)"
    Released: 7 August 2021

Background and Recording

Dark Matters is the first Stranglers studio album since 2012's Giants. Keyboardist Dave Greenfield died in May 2020,[3] with the track And If You Should See Dave... being written by bassist and singer Jean-Jacques Burnel as a subsequent tribute to Greenfield.[4] Greenfield features on eight of the album's 11 tracks, with the remainder being completed by other band members remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions.[5]

Dark Matters also marks the first Stranglers studio album since original drummer Jet Black stepped away from active performances in 2015.[6] Black does not perform on the album, but is thanked in the album's sleeve notes.

This Song is a cover of the track This Song Will Get Me Over You by the band The Disciples of Spess,[7] but is co-credited to the Stranglers.

Dark Matters entered the United Kingdom's Official Albums Chart at number 4,[8] the highest-placed studio album by the Stranglers since Feline in 1983.

Track listing
  1. "Water" – 4:47
  2. "This Song" – 3:20
  3. "And If You Should See Dave..." – 3:35
  4. "If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might as Well Be Love)" – 4:56
  5. "No Man's Land" – 2:25
  6. "The Lines" – 1:37
  7. "Payday" – 3:04
  8. "Down" – 3:01
  9. "The Last Men on the Moon" – 5:35
  10. "White Stallion" – 4:45
  11. "Breathe" – 5:50

A bonus CD, Dave Greenfield – A Tribute, was issued with pre-orders made through The Stranglers' official store.

Track listing
  1. "Dead Ringer" (from Black & White 2016 UK Tour)
  2. "Peasant in the Big Shitty" (Live from Ruby Anniversary 2014 UK Tour)
  3. "Walk On By" (Live from TSUTAYA O-West, Tokyo, Japan 2019)
  4. "Do You Wanna?" (Live from Black & White 2016 UK Tour)
  5. "Baroque Bordello" (Live from Brixton Academy, Back On The Tracks Tour, London 2019)
  6. "4 Horsemen" (Live from March On 2015 UK Tour)
  7. "This Song" (Live from Brixton Academy, Back On The Tracks Tour, London 2019)
  8. "Water" (Live from Brixton Academy, Back On The Tracks Tour, London 2019)

Personnel

The Stranglers

Charts
Chart performance for Dark Matters
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[9] 152
Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[11] 4
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[12] 2

References
  1. The Stranglers honour late keyboard player Dave Greenfield with 'And If You Should See Dave'. Gigwise. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. Hear The Stranglers' tribute to late keyboard player Dave Greenfield - Uncut. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  3. Dave Greenfield: The Stranglers keyboard player dies at 71 -BBC News. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. The Stranglers announce new album 'Dark Matters' and share tribute single for late keyboardist Dave Greenfield - NME. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. Dark Matters CD Album + Dave Greenfield - A Tribute (Exclusive Bonus CD) - The Stranglers Official Online Store. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  6. The Stranglers guitarist Baz Warne on the departure of Jet Black and looking to the next 40 years - The Argus. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. England, Adam. "Album Review: The Stranglers - Dark Matters". Gigwise. Gigwise Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. Copsey, Rob. "Manic Street Preachers win "titanic battle" against Steps to claim second Number 1 on Official Albums Chart". Official Charts. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  9. "Ultratop.be – The Stranglers – Dark Matters" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  11. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
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