On 16 April former Wicked Whispers frontman and one of Liverpool’s most respected songwriters, Michael Robert Murphy, is to release his new single ‘Prometheus Fountain’, which features The Coral‘s Paul Molloy.
The single follows the announcement of a Glasgow date on 21st June and a special album launch show at Future Yard, Birkenhead on 20th June, the same day as he releases his forthcoming debut solo album ‘Chaos Magick’ which was produced by By The Sea (Liam Power) and Michael himself.
“‘Chaos Magick’ is a very personal and autobiographic album”, says Michael, “and ‘Prometheus Fountain’ is a song dedicated to and and inspired to my late mum who was the last of my blood family when she passed a few years ago. We were incredibly close and it broke my heart. This song relates to a time when she, although not having much money, saved and took me to New York for my 18th birthday. One of our favourite films we’d always watch together when I was little was Home Alone 2, so when I think back to that time I think of us visiting places like Rockefeller Plaza and when I want to see her again I always imagine meeting her at that fountain.”
Recorded in a remote farm studio in the Wirral Merseyside, Michael describes the album, which features some Liverpool legends including Echo and The Bunnymen’s Will Sergeant and The Coral’s Ian Skelly, Paul Molloy and Ian Mac, as “A scouse lo-fi autobiographical psychedelic odyssey”.
His experimentation with and fusing of many lo-fi and modern techniques in the Wirral countryside gives the music a raw, imaginative and vivid quality that perfectly complements the personal storytelling of the lyrics. “I‘m a huge fan of Beck, Massive Attack and The Beta Band” he says, “and wanted to tie my patented blend of romance and psychedelia in with the sensibilities of a pop record”.
The release of ‘Prometheus Fountain’ comes as Michael shares the video for ‘Lift The Curse’, the huge comeback first single from ‘Chaos Magick’, which is set for a 20th June release.
You can watch the video for the single, which was shot by Fiona Skelly (Of The Sunflowers / Brooke Combe), edited by Dan Hewiston (Jamie Webster) and inspired by the intro to 80’s TV show Tales From The Unexpected and James Bond‘s Live and Let Die BELOW:
Of the homecoming album launch show, Michael says, “I’m thrilled to be hosting the album launch show at Future Yard. It’s an incredible venue with a serious community mission but also has one of the best stage sounds in the area. We also choose here as my debut record was recorded this side of the Mersey in nearby Raby and with some VERY special guests to appear who were involved in the making of the record, it seemed the ideal place to host the launch”.
Details of the Birkenhead show are:
Michael Robert Murphy
Plus VERY Special Guests
Chaos Magick Album Launch
Future Yard, Birkenhead
Friday June 20th 2025
Tickets are on sale now via here.
And The Glasgow show:
Michael Robert Murphy
The Old Hairdressers
Saturday 21st June 2025
BBC Introducing recently hosted a Michael Robert Murphy focus to celebrate the release of ‘Lift The Curse’. Michael sat down with host Dave Monks to reveal the news of the debut album ‘Chaos Magick’ and talked over its journey. Also, Michael performed two brand new songs live from the forthcoming album. The show also debuted the first radio play of ‘Lift The Curse’ and from the archives, older tracks including ‘Bad Apples’.
Michael is currently lining up more dates for a UK tour, in-stores and a special hometown show in support of the album.
Single pre-save link: https://ditto.fm/prometheus-fountain
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