Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds｜The band's fourth original album in five and a half years, "Council Skies" is now available in limited edition with a T-shirt!

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds｜The band's fourth original album in five and a half years, "Council Skies" is now available in limited edition with a T-shirt!

Noel Gallagher, who has reigned as a rock legend for more than 30 years as a member of the legendary rock band Oasis and as the solo project Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds since 2011, will release his fourth original album "Council Skies" as High Flying Birds after a five and a half year absence.

The concept of the new album is a return to his roots, and it is a tribute to Noel's hometown of Manchester. Noel is a well-known supporter of Manchester City FC, and the album cover photo was taken at the site of the Maine Road Football Stadium, which was also the former home stadium of Manchester City FC. The lyrical photo shows the High Flying Birds band's equipment in the center of the stadium. The product booklet is also said to represent Noel's own journey, including a photo of Manchester's Piccadilly Station, which symbolizes the moment Noel left his hometown for London. The album's title is taken from a book of the same title published in 2019 by Noel's friend and illustrator-Pete McKee.

The album was recorded at Noel's studios <Lone Star Sound Recording Studios> and <Abbey Road Studios> in London. The album was co-produced by Noel and longtime collaborator Paul "Strange Boy" Stacey, and also features his friend Johnny Marr on guitar on three songs. The album has the most varied sound in the history of his career, and is full of emotion, in keeping with the concept of the album. The album is a showcase of Noel's quest to continue to evolve and explore the creative side of his career, even after 30 years.

The bonus disc on the deluxe edition includes remixes by Robert Smith (The Cure) and Pet Shop Boys, a live radio session of Oasis' signature song "Live Forever," and many other rare and valuable recordings.　The new song "Easy Now" is Noel Gallagher's quintessential song, full of psychedelic and uplifting elements, with an impressive back chorus and beautiful melody played by organ chords. It is an anthemic song that is sure to be a sing-along favorite at live performances. The music video features Millie Alcock, an actor who gained attention for her role in HBO's popular TV drama "House of the Dragon," and Noel himself makes a cameo appearance. The video beautifully expresses the emotional inflections of the song as it reaches its climax.

Noel commented on the album as follows.
This is the first thing I go back to. In my daydreams, I look up at the sky and imagine what life has in store for me... This feeling has never changed for me, neither in the early 90s nor now. Growing up in an environment where poverty and unemployment was a problem, music pulled me out of it. Top of the Pops" turned our Thursday nights into a fantasy world, and I think that's what music should be about. I want my music to uplift and change people in some way.

The domestic version of the album will be released as a 2-CD set (Blu-spec CD2 specification) with a hardcover booklet and stickers as a bonus <First Edition Limited Version>, and also as a luxury <Total Production Limited Version> with a random T-shirt printed with Noel's past sayings in his own handwritten design. The version with a T-shirt will be released as a "Limited First Edition" and a "Full Production Limited Edition".

The limited editions with T-shirts are <Full Production Limited Edition A: 2CD + Black T-shirt> <Full Production Limited Edition B: 2CD + White T-shirt> <Full Production Limited Edition C: 2CD + Army Green T-shirt>, with a choice of colors depending on the edition (the T-shirt size is the same for all editions: Unisex L). (The size of the T-shirt is the same for all forms: unisex L). Each body color is randomly printed with one of the three patterns of "Noel's saying" designs. The back of the T-shirt features the logo of the latest album "Council Skies".

One of the following three patterns of the maxim design will be included at random.
Quote (1): "Rock n' Roll to me is all.
Rock n' Roll to me is all about freedom of thought and to be whatever you want to be.
Rock n' Roll to me is all about freedom of thought and to be whatever you want to be.

Proverb #2: <I'm the best
I get out of bed everyday and I'm in shock at how good I am.
I get up every morning and I'm in shock at how good I am.

Proverb #3: <Buy another one!
Do you have this shirt in other colors?
Do you have this shirt in other colors? Just get another one.

The three limited editions and the limited first pressing will all include the same 2CD (Blu-spec CD2), hardcover booklet, and stickers. The CD will also include remixes by Robert Smith (The Cure) and the Pet Shop Boys, and a live radio session of Oasis' signature song "Live Forever". In addition, "Easy Now (Acoustic)" will be added as a bonus track only for the domestic release, for a total of 25 tracks.

■Tracklisting 2CD
＜Disc 1＞
1. I'm Not Giving Up Tonight
2. Pretty Boy
3. Dead To The World
4. Open The Door, See What You Find
5. Trying To Find A World That's Been And Gone
6. Easy Now
7. Council Skies
8. There She Blows!
9. Love Is A Rich Man
10. Think Of A Number
11.Easy Now (Acoustic)

＜Disc 2＞
1. Don’t Stop…
2. We’re Gonna Get There In The End
3. Mind Games
4. Pretty Boy (Instrumental)
5. Dead To The World (Instrumental)
6. Council Skies (Instrumental)
7. Think Of A Number (Instrumental)
8. I’m Not Giving Up Tonight (David Holmes Remix)
9. Think Of A Number (Pet Shop Boys Magic Eye 12” Remix)
10. Pretty Boy (Robert Smith Remix)
11. Council Skies (The Reflex Revision)
12. Flying On The Ground (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)
13. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)
14. Live Forever (Radio 2 Session, 08.09.21)