Noel Gallagher has celebrated a selection of Manchester landmarks he loves with the release of his latest album.
The former Oasis songwriter, singer and guitarist's band, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, unveiled their fourth studio album 'Council Skies' today - and there's many a nod to the sights and sounds he grew up with in Manchester.
Even Manchester City's old ground Maine Road is referenced on what marks a centenary year for Noel's beloved club ahead of Saturday's FA Cup Final and the Champions League Final the week after.
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The Gallagher brothers were brought up in Burnage and the album features haunting photographs of streets and landmarks of the area. They also include images of Burnage Lane and Mr Sifters record store on Fog Lane, together with public parks.
The images - taken by renowned Manchester-born music photographer Kevin Cummins - are said by Noel's people to be of places that have 'significant meaning' to the 56-year-old.
They include Burnage community centre, Levenshulme station, Longsight market, the Apollo and the City Road Inn on Albion Street in Manchester.
From the evocative album title to the cover art and the actual lyrics, the album is said to represent Noel 'reclaiming his past and paying homage to his Mancunian roots'.
Council Skies was recorded at Noel's own Lone Star Sound Recording Studios in London, with the album's orchestrated strings laid down at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Produced by Noel with long-time collaborator Paul 'Strangeboy' Stacey, the album also features performances from Johnny Marr on three tracks, including recent single 'Pretty Boy'.
'Council Skies' itself takes its title from a book by revered northern illustrator and friend of Noel, artist Pete McKee. It covers themes of youthful yearning and unbridled ambition.
Noel said of the album: "It's going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be… that's as true to me now as it was in the early 90s.
"When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that. Top of the Pops on TV transformed your Thursday night into this fantasy world, and that's what I think music should be. I want my music to be elevating and transforming in some way."
The imagery capture's the band's equipment set up on the original centre spot of what was City's Maine Road stadium, with this year marking 100 years since the ground was opened as the former home of Manchester City FC.
Cummins goes on to capture locations poignant to Noel’s formative years - culminating with a striking image of Manchester's Piccadilly railway station conceived to mark the moment Noel left his home city for London.
"This visual representation perfectly encapsulates the themes, journey and emotional heart of 'Council Skies', reads an album blurb.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds first emerged in 2011. They've since released three studio albums, a collection of EPs and have played hundreds of live shows to fans across the world.
June 2021's 'Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)' marked the band’s fourth consecutive No 1 album and the 12th No 1 album across Noel's prolific career.
Summer 2022 saw the band play Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage and on August 26 this year, the High Flying Birds will play Wythenshawe Park in a triumphant homecoming gig, with support from Primal Scream and Future Islands.
Council Skies is available via Sour Mash Records.
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