Previously unreleased song ‘The Way That It Was’, taken from the upcoming special edition release of the Johnny Marr + the Healers album Boomslang (Deluxe), is now available to listen to here. First released in 2003, Boomslang will now be available in its entirety for the first time in 21 years from 20th September 2024.
In addition to the album’s 11 original songs, Boomslang (Deluxe) offers fans more new and unheard music from this exciting period of Johnny Marr’s songwriting. Seven previously unreleased archive recordings from the Healers era, titled ‘All Out Attack’, ‘You Are The Magic’ (Union Mix), ‘Get Me Wrong’, ‘A Woman Like You’, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right’, plus the extended mix of original album track ‘Get Me Wrong’ (Instrumental Version), and ‘The Way That It Was’ will all feature on the album for the first time.
‘The Way That It Was’ follows the release of ‘All Out Attack’, both recordings celebrate Boomslang as a unique trip into Johnny Marr’s creativity at the dawn of the 21st century. Leaning into new technology, experimenting with new ways to write, record and think. After becoming a member of The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Neil Finn’s 7 Worlds Collide, and writing and performing with Pet Shop Boys, Bryan Ferry, Kirsty MacColl, Talking Heads, Beck and countless others, Johnny Marr + the Healers formed by chance.
Marr first met drummer Zak Starkey following a Who concert at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1999. Former Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan joined the pair later, following a recommendation from Noel Gallagher. Percussionist Liz Bonney emerged from Byron Bay with Lee Spencer’s rainforest synth wizardry in tow. Adam Gray summoned his slide guitar for the ‘Electro-Cosmic-Blues’ and, united by chemistry and cosmic energy, the Healers came into existence.
Boomslang was recorded at a house in the trees called Forest Edge, where the Healers lived and worked together in a commune-like environment. Inspired by the far-reaching sounds of Faust, Boards Of Canada, Neu, Bert Jansch, and esoteric literature by Madame Blavatsky, Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, the Healers lived like early digital glitter hippies. The ethos was to create an interesting rock record to space out to. A six piece band seeking an alternative to the 1990s British indie zeitgeist.
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