The English band that ruled MTV in the channel’s 1980s music video heyday, Duran Duran, are further upping the game here in the 21st Century with the September 11 release of Paper Gods on Warner Bros. Records. (The date was just moved up a week due t0 – as the label notes – popular demand.) It features special guest appearances by Nile Rodgers (one of the set’s producers) and rising psychedelic R&B sensation Janelle Monáe on its just-released first single, “Pressure Off,” an infectious dance/pop number in the classic Duran mold yet right on time for summer 2015. Other luminaries on the album include ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante on four songs, Canadian Juno-Award winning singer Kiesza, British singer/songwriter/producer Mr Hudson – who also produced tracks on the Paper Gods, as did Mark Ronson and Josh Blair – Mew vocalist Jonas Bjerre and violinist Davidé Rossi along with a spoken word appearance by Lindsay Lohan.
The 12-tracks on Paper Gods will be released as a standard CD and deluxe edition with three bonus tracks – both also available digitally – plus as a vinyl double album and as a limited-edition, high-end vinyl box set. Duran Duran will also tour the U.S. in September and October.
