Haircut 100 Returns with ‘Boxing The Compass’ New Album, Out May 29
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Editorial Dept.
After more than 40 years, Haircut 100 are returning with an album Boxing The Compass – an apt follow up to the 1982 debut, Pelican West. The new album features the band’s signature groove-driven, horn-laced pop sound with a mix of classic and fresh styles. With anticipation growing for the album fans can also look ahead to a vinyl edition and a string of live dates around the UK.
A press release from Haircut 100’s management announced that Boxing the Compass is due outon May 29 with a vinyl release to follow on June 26 via October is Orange Ltd, distributed in North America by BFD/ The Orchard.
An unexpected second chapter in the Haircut 100 story gathered pace last year when their single ‘The Unloving Plum’, became Radio 2’s Record of the Week and the band played sold out shows across North America and The UK .
Watch the “The Unloving Plum”:
The band, all these years later still deliver the same groove-driven, horn-laced tracks that will comfortably sit alongside their classic ‘80s hits ‘Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)’, ‘Love Plus One’, ‘Fantastic Day’ and ‘Nobody’s Fool’.
Talking about the new album, frontman Nick Heyward says: ‘Boxing the Compass’ is the traditional way of finding out where you are on land or sea using the compass rose. We’re arriving back at the port we left 43 years ago with a log of songs from our personal travels. Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’ve always been Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 and we’re all ready to set sail again for more adventures on the high seas.”
Pre-Order Boxing The Compass:
Bassist Les Nemes adds: “We still tend to record in the old school fashion as much as possible, the technology moves forward all the time but our creativity and the way we approach the writing, performance and recording still has its roots firmly in 1982.”
On capturing the ‘Haircut’ signature sound guitarist Graham Jones says: “When we were recording backing tracks with Sean Read at Famous Times Studio, he watched us working in our unique way and said something like, “Ahh, I get it, I see how you get the Haircut sound”. It’s what happens when you know and trust the other members to be themselves. We know when it’s not ‘Haircut’.”
Boxing The Compass will be just the second album from the classic line-up since 1982’s hit-packed, Platinum-certified #2 record Pelican West (another album minus Nick Heyward, Paint and Paint, followed in 1984). Nick Heyward (vocals/guitar), Graham Jones (guitar) and Les Nemes (bass) had reconvened to discuss issues around the band, but that business meeting felt more like a reunion of old friends. Things soon snowballed from an unforgettable comeback gig at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire to a full UK headline tour, with drummer Blair Cunningham also subsequently jumping back onboard.
Subsequent writing and recording sessions with Sean Read (Dexys) at Famous Times studio in East London showed that they still shared that special something. Their flair for a classic, melody rich pop song was firmly intact alongside with a host of fresh influences that they had never had the chance to explore together. And despite the passing of four decades, their boyish charm is still luminous – surely because each member is grateful for having a second chance with their old friends.
Nemes talks about recording together after such a long period of time. “When you are recording an album, you just have to turn up every day, the universe will take care of everything else and it has never let us down. All you have to do is trust, never question and the ideas will flow out of you.” He continues: “We are best mates but also .. we are a band, we live like a band, we talk like a band, we act and feel like a band and we play and record like a band, that is where the magic happens, we light a spark inside each other as soon as we switch on the amps, plug in and play the first note or kick drum beat. We don’t think about it, it just happens and we trust that it always will.”
Jones adds: “Playing with Les, Blair and Nick never disappoints and always throws up surprises. When recording I just know that Blair will keep the band steady and tight, Les will play a melodic bass line you would never expect and Nick’s lyrics will take you somewhere you never knew existed.”
Boxing The Compass will be released on digital, CD and vinyl formats.
Boxing The Compass tracklist:
1. ‘Come Back To Me’
2. ‘Vanishing Point’
3. ‘Soul Bird’
4. ‘Raincloud’
5. ‘Sunshine’
6. ‘The Unloving Plum’
7. ‘Someone’
8. ‘That’s a Start’
9. ‘Dynamite’
10. ‘A Wonderful Life’
HAIRCUT 100 Live Dates 2026
Apr 27 – Southend UK , Chinnerys
Apr 28 – Oxford, UK – O2 Academy
May 1 – London, UK – Palladium
May 2 – Warwick, UK – Arts Centre
May 3 – Poole, UK – Lighthouse
May 7 – Cambridge, UK – Corn Exchange
May 8 – York, UK – Barbican
May 9 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
May 10 – Glasgow, UK – Pavilion Theatre
May 14 – Bath, UK – Forum
May 15 – Bexhill, UK – De La Warr Pavilion
May 16 – Basingstoke, UK – The Anvil
May 17 – Lincoln, UK – Engine Shed
Jul 5 – Guilfest, UK – Guildford
Jul 17 – Hampton, UK – Hampton Court Picnic Concert
Jul 25 – Dundee, UK – 80s Calling!
Aug 8 – Darlington, UK – Discovery Festival,
NICK HEYWARD SOLO:
May 3 – Huddersfield, UK – Let’s Rock
Jun 27 – Leeds, UK – 80s Classical
Aug 30 – Cottingham, UK – Cottingham Folk Festival
Sep 10 – Poole, UK – St Peters – supporting Saint Etienne
Sep 11 – London, UK – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – supporting Saint Etienne
Sep 12 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute – supporting Saint Etienne
Feb 27 – Mar 6- 80s Cruise (New Orleans – Mexico – Belize – New Orleans)
Follow Haircut 100
Site: https://haircut100.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haircutonehundredmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haircutonehundred/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCou9kqmdNRwejJ9rjXMVGyQ
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