Limited to 500 copies. Independent heavyweights Spearmint return this year to follow-up 2021’s highly acclaimed ‘Holland Park’, with the superb new album ‘This Candle Is For You’. Spearmint have been making great records for a couple of decades now: this will be their tenth album proper. Still the same line-up: Shirley Lee (singing, guitar), Simon Calnan (singing, keyboards), James Parsons (guitar, bass) and Ronan Larvor (drums). This album will be the 60th release on their own hitBACK label. Missed out so far? The new album provides the perfect place to start! The dizzying multiverse of an album covers a wide array of themes, including the search for a missing sister, the ways we remember lost loved ones, Prince’s encounters with Joni Mitchell, the story of John Gavin, the James Bond star who never got to make a film, late-night drinking in Soho, the joys of B-movies & video nasties, changing attitudes to mental health, the plight and wonder of older cats, the reaction to the death of Sarah Everard, and the afterlife. Re-united with producer Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti), the band feel that this record is their best yet. Singer Shirley explains “We started off just wanting to make an album that would stand alongside our last one ‘Holland Park’, but it ended up surprising us – we love it!” ‘This Candle Is For You’ is released on 17th November digitally, on CD, and on limited vinyl with 32-page lyric book via WIAIWYA records. It will be preceded by three 7” singles with accompanying videos: ‘Melody’s Mother’s Jam’ on 28th July. ‘Three More Songs On The Jukebox’ & Prince & Joni’ on 15th September. ‘Older Cats 2’ on 3rd November. Spearmint will premiere the album live in London in December, followed by further shows throughout 2024.

“Super-sweet, super-literate pop. How amazing that Spearmint, all in middle age, clearly still keeping up the day jobs, can unite to make music this wonderful.” – Mojo

“Durable, indefinable art-pop mavericks Spearmint go all out on the brilliant, bittersweet concept album Holland Park” – Prog Magazine

“Contender for the end of the year best-of lists. I could pick every single track here as a highlight. This guy could sing the phone book.” – Louder Than War

“It’s one of the best albums of the year.” – God is in the TV

“Spearmint’s ‘Future’ vision fizzes with energy and charm vibrantly alive in the here and now.” **** Record Collector

“One of the great unsung indie-pop bands of the last 20 years.” – Arts Agenda

“Clever pop, big tunes – this band is a hidden gem.” – Vanguard Online

“Every song is a melodious delight: wry observations on politics, love, longing and loss. Spearmint are a revelation and an institution.” – Back Seat Mafia

“Spray your listening space in an adorable sunny feel-good radiance. Resistance as they say, is useless.” – The Sunday Experience

“Grab this album, crank up the volume and dance barefoot round the kitchen… Go buy!” – Penny Black Music