Simple Minds are a force of nature.
The Scottish band emerged from the white heat of punk, absorbing influences from continental experimentalists to pursue their own path.
Releasing a string of cutting edge post-punk releases, Simple Minds crossed over to global success, becoming one of the best-known bands of their generation.
Today – January 17th – marks the 44th anniversary of the band playing their first gig at Glasgow's Satellite City, and to celebrate Simple Minds have returned to a near-mythical early rarity.
'Act Of Love' was written in the run up to Simple Minds' 1979 debut album 'Life In A Day' before disappearing into the mist.
Given an initial demo, 'Act Of Love' was never properly recorded, with frontman Jim Kerr commenting: "Through the years, I always wanted to go back to it…"
Lyrics from the song were recycled on subsequent releases, but the song retained a place in the band's own imagination.
The band's Charlie Burchill went on holiday to Thailand a couple of years back, and decided to pick through the bones of 'Act Of Love'.
Through the magic of WiFi, a brand new demo arrived in Jim Kerr's Inbox within a few hours. The singer comments: "It was ‘Act Of Love’ with a new bit, and it sounded great…"
"We tinkered around with it," Jim Kerr adds. "When we listened to the original demo, we loved its spirit and its general form, but it sounded like a youth club band song. How could we do that now, adding extra pieces without losing the essence?"
A surging torrent of energy, 'Act Of Love' finds Simple Minds renewing their faith in one another, tapping back into the influences that forged them.
Emerging as a crisp, digitised piece of avant pop, 'Act Of Love' feels like a message from the band to their fans, a gift for years of fellowship and unity.
We've got first play of the lyric video, crafted by Laurie Evans – who also designed the excellent punk era sleeve, above.
Tune in below.
Catch Simple Minds at the following shows:
March
31 London The SSE Arena Wembley
April
1 Bournemouth International Centre
3 Brighton Centre
5 Aberdeen P&J Live
6 Glasgow OVO Hydro
7 Birmingham Resorts World Arena
9 Leeds First Direct Arena
10 Newcastle Utilita Arena
12 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
14 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
15 Hull Bonus Arena
16 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
June
18 Blenheim Palace Nocturne Live
August
9 Belfast Custon House Square
12 Edinburgh Summer Sessions
13 Edinburgh Summer Sessions
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