Paul McCartney reignites Fireman project

LONDON (Billboard) - Paul McCartney is returning to his Fireman alias after a decade away from the musical collaboration with producer Youth.

McCartney will release "Electric Arguments" by the Fireman on November 17 via MPL, an imprint of his London-based publishing company. The 13-track album will be manufactured and distributed by U.K. indie One Little Indian worldwide except in the U.S., where ATO will issue it.

The third set from the Fireman, "Electric Arguments" is the first to feature vocals and is described as "entirely different" from the dance and electronic music of previous releases.

McCartney and Martin "Youth" Glover, a former member of Killing Joke, released an ambient dance album, "Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" (Parlophone), in 1993; McCartney's involvement was initially a secret but later leaked. They followed that with another electronica project, "Rushes" (Hydra/EMI), in 1998.

The new album features more-traditional songwriting, including classic rock and acoustic tracks, "yet is in keeping with the genre-hopping spirit of the first two Fireman albums," according to a statement. One track, "Lifelong Passion," was donated to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield as a download for those making donations.

"Electric Arguments" was recorded in just 13 days, although the sessions were spread out over nearly a year. Each track was written and recorded in one day, and the duo also produced the album.

The statement adds that it was "made with no record company restraints or a set release date to work to" and "with complete artistic and creative freedom."

McCartney released his last solo album, "Memory Almost Full," via Hear Music in June 2007. It was his first release since leaving EMI.

Reuters/Billboard