22 years after the shoegaze masterpiece Loveless was released, My Bloody Valentine main man Kevin Shields has announced that the band could finally release its third album any day now. According to the band's Facebook page, the album was mastered on December 21, meaning the long-awaited release might actually see release this year.
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Shields revealed plans to release the new album "maybe in two or three days" at the band's first UK show in nearly 15 years this past weekend. Taken within context, Shields may have just been trying to shut up a heckling fan begging for info about the new album, but according to Digital Spy's concert review, Shields' only words pertained to the new album.
The band kicked off its set with a brand new song dubbed "Rough Song," which has already made its way across the internet. Most of the live videos have been taken down, but we did manage to find an audio recording.
Listen: "Rough Song," courtesy of Hype Machine
What would we do without cell phone cameras? It's so much easier to show than tell, or in this case, listen, to the layered, gauzy new track from My Bloody Valentine. This instrumental song sounds like it could have been a b-side to Loveless. It may not be the best recording, but the wall of sound and Shields' signature heavily distorted guitar is all there. The riff loops a bit and transitions into "I Only Said," based on the setlist.
In an interview with NME, Shields revealed that the album will be released on the band's website. "[The new record] really frees us up, and the bigger picture isn't 100% necessary," he said.
Loveless took over two years to complete, so we'll see if Shields' "two-or- three day" estimate is correct. 'Til then, we're left with lots of anticipation, repeated listens of "Rough Song," and video from My Bloody Valentine's 2008 reunion shows. The band is still holding it together quite well, hopefully the new album will be motivation for the band to tour in the United States. They may not be performing at Coachella (we're just as disappointed as you are), but they will be appearing alongside Phoenix and The Postal Service at Spain's Primavera Sound festival.
