Clash got on the phone to Leftfield’s Neil Barnes earlier today, for a wee natter ahead of his DJ set at The Playground’s KOKO (Camden) night on October 18th (with Model 500 and A Guy Called Gerald).
Naturally we asked about the possibility of a third Leftfield album, to follow 1995’s revered ‘Leftism’ and 1999’s UK number one set ‘Rhythm And Stealth’.
And this is what he told us:
“Okay, the state of play is that I’m finishing a new album – a new Leftfield album. This might even be the exclusive on that, actually, but you asked me what I’ve been doing – and what I’ve been doing is finishing off the new Leftfield album, over the past six months. I’m still doing that, alongside doing bits of DJing.
“I don’t know exactly when the new Leftfield album will be out, but I’ve gone and let the cat out of the… what do they say the cat’s let out of? The bag – the cat’s out of the bag now. And why not let someone know? People are always asking about it, and it’s not exactly a secret that I’ve been working on a new album – I’ve been doing this for the last two years. And I have deadlines to meet now! So, most of my time right now is being spent on this new Leftfield album.
“I’m not going to say anything more about the album, though! I couldn’t say that much more about it, anyway – but I am really very happy with it.”
Except, he did tell us more. But for that, you’ll have to wait for our full Q&A with Barnes, which will be on Clash next week (w/c October 13th). He also tells us about some of his favourite new dance producers, and rolls back the years to consider ‘Leftism’’s place in the pantheon of supremely influential British albums.
Speaking of which, here’s ‘Release The Pressure’, the opening track from ‘Leftism’ – an album which celebrates its 20th anniversary in January 2015.
Be sure to check Barnes out in DJ action at London's KOKO on October 18th – full details here.
Photo: Marot & Sons, from Facebook
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