“And in the rhythm of your voice
I find space to rejoice
My complicated illusions
Leave me with no choice”

‘Complicated Illusions’ The new Manics single with a unique visual from Kieran Evans: https://t.co/x9Mk9C1Knl

Streaming now: https://t.co/wlUexYn8IJ pic.twitter.com/HRaHnkZluI

— Manic Street Preachers (@Manics) October 8, 2021

This new album has proved to be a roaring success for the group, marking their first Number One album in twenty-three years, with their 1998 record This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours being their first release to hone this title. According to Sony Music, the band said of their achievement: “It’s amazing to be back at No.1 after 23 years- it was a titanic chart battle, and we are absolutely over the moon.” A recent review of the album by NME’s Patrick Clarke called it an “album of dramatic piano flourishes and rushes of guitar; of old-school duets and soaring power pop choruses” a description that is most certainly exemplified by the single “Complicated Illusions”.

Manic Street Preachers have likened “Complicated Illusions” to “More Than This era” Roxy Music, David Bowie and Echo and the Bunnymen, describing the song as “the battle between chaos and calm with a gliding majestic lyrical flow”. The comparisons definitely ring true, with the song featuring a soaring, Bowie-esque chorus and a gentle verse vocal line that evokes memories of Bryan Ferry’s performances in Roxy Music’s 1982 album Avalon.

The visualiser was created by filmmaker Kieran Evans, a Welsh filmmaker known for his directorial work on various music documentaries such as Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before, David Gilmour: Wider Horizons and the drama film Kelly + Victor. Evans said of his approach to creating the video for “Complicated Illusions”: “I’ve always felt the track feels like an epic soundtrack to an as yet made film so I’ve gone for a visual/lyric type affair using a similar aesthetic / approach to a lot of Netflix type title sequences using minimal / small type over multi-layered imagery.” The video can be viewed on the band’s YouTube channel.

The Ultra Vivid Lament is available via all streaming services, and there are numerous physical versions (including 12” vinyl, CD and picture disc) available on the band’s website.

Presently, Manic Street Preachers are in the middle of a UK tour, of which there are five remaining dates. These are listed down below, and tickets can be purchased at this link.

11/10/2022- Corn Exchange, Cambridge
13/10/22- Bath Forum, Bath
14/10/22- Brighton Dome, Brighton
01/12- Venue Cymru Arena, Llandudno
03/22- SSE Arena Wembley, London