Ahead of the release of his new album Strange Dance, Philip Selway has shared a new video for “Picking Up Pieces”. The track also features the guitar work of Portishead’s Adrian Utley. “Picking Up Pieces” is off Selway’s forthcoming Marta Salogni produced album Strange Dance, available February 24, via Bella Union.

This video is the second in a series for Selway’s forthcoming album and is again directed by William Williamson, with cinematography by award-winning DOP Adric Watson. The video for ‘Picking Up Pieces’ continues the story begun with the video for ‘Check for Signs of Life’ and features the same quartet of iconic dancers – Siobhan Davies, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp, Liam Francis and Simone Davies – with the piece also choreographed by Liam and Simone. Produced by Uncommon Creative Studio, ‘Picking Up Pieces’ is filmed as a one shot, on 16mm, and features a spinning camera movement designed to mimic the lyrics. The video takes it’s gorgeous golden brown Autumnal color palette from one of a collection of paintings made by artist Stewart Geddes in response to the album. Speaking about the video, director William Williamson says: “We all viewed this film as a continuation of the last, with the choreography having echoes of our characters worlds whilst simultaneously unfolding new elements and emotions.”

Commenting on the track Selway says: “Picking Up Pieces is a song about the masking that we do when we’re young adults. It’s a time of life when your sense of identity can feel shaky, you can feel anxious about making the grade, and life can feel that it’s spinning out of control, but you try to hide this from everyone.”

When Philip Selway approached some of his favorite musicians to play on his third solo record he said he imagined it as a Carole King record if she collaborated with the pioneering electronic composer Daphne Oram and invited him to drum on it. Unsurprisingly they were all sold, and so began the bringing together of an extraordinary number of gifted people, including Hannah Peel, Adrian Utley, Quinta, Marta Salogni, Valentina Magaletti and Laura Moody.

known predominantly as one of the most celebrated drummers in the world, playing in Radiohead for decades – actually “sacked” himself from the drums within a couple of hours of recording. Instead, Valentina Magaletti brought her “distinctive voice” to the drums and percussion. Another vital voice is the arrangements by Laura Moody which complement Marta Salogni’s production.

“One of the things I’ve liked about this record is it’s me as a 55-year-old not trying to hide that fact,” says Selway. “It feels kind of unguarded rather than seeing that aging process as something that needs to be hidden.” And there is a buoyancy and warmth to the record; a sense of optimism and hope. “I wanted it to have that space so if you’re listening to it you can lose yourself in it,” he says. “Almost like a refuge.”

Philip Selway
Strange Dance
Bella Union
Tracklisting

1. Little Things
2. What Keeps You Awake At Night
3. Check For Signs Of Life
4. Picking Up Pieces
5. The Other Side
6. Strange Dance
7. Make It Go Away
8. The Heart Of It All
9. Salt Air
10. There’ll Be Better Days

Pre-order Strange Dance by Philip Selway HERE