A mere 34 years since the release of one of the landmark albums of the 80s, ABC return to the scene of their most resounding triumph with the May 27th release of ‘The Lexicon Of Love II’ on the Virgin EMI label. Sonically doffing its cap to the original, it features 10 brand new songs from the pen of ABC kingpin Martin Fry abetted by various musical cohorts. It might take a less innocent, more experienced view on affairs of the heart than its million selling predecessor, but it still concludes that all you need is love.

Foremost among Fry’s collaborators on the new album is Academy Award winning musician and composer Anne Dudley, who arranged the strings on the original Lexicon; she has provided orchestral arrangements that give ‘The Lexicon Of Love II’ its signature sound, and has co written two of the key songs on the album: ‘The Love Inside The Love’ and ‘Brighter Than The Sun’. Other songwriting partners include Grammy award winner Rob Fusari (Beyonce, Lady Gaga), film composer Charlie Mole and Marcus Vere. Production is by Gary Stevenson and Martin Fry. The video for the first single ‘Viva Love’ has been filmed by director Julien Temple in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, the same venue where they shot the promo for ‘Poison Arrow’ in ’82. Julien Temple went on to make a feature length movie starring ABC entitled ‘Mantrap’, released in ’83.