One of the band’s darker albums, responding to themes surrounding the oppression of bodies, free will and free speech, explored in the books. The books were chosen through a number of curations, including the author events at Mr B’s, but also by the V&A Museum, written for their season on banned books, and for the National Portrait Gallery, responding to their exhibition on the Brontë sisters. 

The album was produced by Pete Townshend, who features as a musician on every track.

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The band will support the release with a full, 70-date UK tour, mostly in indie bookshops, and starting at Glastonbury Festival with a set at Toad Hall.

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 “I am enchanted, such variation and delicacy… such latent power, really great work. It reminded me of my days listening to Sandy Denny and Fairport [Convention] and The Incredible String Band… - a great discovery and inspiration.” 

Pete Townshend

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Book inspiration from: 

Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage.

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments.

The Seven Ravens, a traditional folk tale.

Robert Macfarlane’s Underland. 

Carol Birch’s Orphans of the Carnival.

Yann Martel’s The High Mountains of Portugal.

Shaun Bythell’s The Diary of a Bookseller. 

Barney Norris’ The Vanishing Hours.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.

 

ARTWORK BY STANLEY DONWOOD

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All songs written by Beth Porter & Ben Please (The Bookshop Band)

All instruments played by Beth Porter, Ben Please & Pete Townshend, plus glockenspiel by Yann Martel on Why I Travel This Way.

 

Produced by Pete Townshend

Recorded at Upper Woody Studios, UK

Engineered by Miles Clarke, Michael Nyandoro, & Simon Law

Mixed by John Wood (Analogue Mixing)

Mastered by Simon Heyworth 

Original artwork and cover design by Stanley Donwood

Album design by Ben Please