With “Mansun Retold,” Paul Draper takes a musical journey through his own work, completely reinterpreting eleven defining Mansun songs. The new recordings were made at Loft Studios in Surrey and are presented as completely acoustic re-creations with a full band line-up. Unlike the electric originals from the late 1990s, this recording focuses on an organic, unplugged aesthetic that gives the songs a surprisingly different dimension.

The production was created in close collaboration with Paul “PDub” Walton, who is already known for his work with The Cure, Björk, and Massive Attack. The musical arrangement is enriched by a string quartet arranged and conducted by Audrey Riley. Julian Fenton, who was a member of Mansun in its early days, can be heard on drums. Draper himself plays acoustic bass, lead and rhythm guitar, and piano, breathing new life into his own compositions with a contemporary retelling.

The Blu-ray Audio contains the album in three different sound formats: high-resolution stereo, 5.1 surround sound, and a Dolby Atmos mix that precisely stages the string quartet, acoustic guitars, and piano in space, emphasizing the intimate character of the unplugged arrangements. From the restrained intensity of “Dark Mavis” to the direct honesty of “I Can Only Disappoint U,” the eleven selected tracks are presented as a newly discovered musical legacy. The second CD complements the edition with exclusive “stripped back” versions of selected songs. The whole thing is packaged in a 48-page hardcover book, offering a high-quality visual presentation as well.

Tracklist:

Blu-ray Audio

1. I’ve Seen The Top Of The Mountain (Retold)
2. Disgusting (Retold)
3. I Can Only Disappoint U (Retold)
4. Until The Next Life (Retold)
5. Naked Twister (Retold)
6. The Chad Who Loved Me (Retold)
7. Wide Open Space (Retold)
8. Dark Mavis (Retold)
9. Comes As No Surprise (Retold)
10. Mansun’s Only Love Song (Retold)
11. When The Wind Blows (Retold)

CD 1: Mansun Retold

1. I’ve Seen The Top Of The Mountain (Retold)
2. Disgusting (Retold)
3. I Can Only Disappoint U (Retold)
4. Until The Next Life (Retold)
5. Naked Twister (Retold)
6. The Chad Who Loved Me (Retold)
7. Wide Open Space (Retold)
8. Dark Mavis (Retold)
9. Comes As No Surprise (Retold)
10. Mansun’s Only Love Song (Retold)
11. When The Wind Blows (Retold)

CD 2: Stripped Back Versions

1. Until The Next Life (Stripped Back)
2. When The Wind Blows (Stripped Back)
3. Naked Twister (Stripped Back)
4. I’ve Seen The Top Of The Mountain (Stripped Back)
5. Mansun’s Only Love Song (Stripped Back)
6. Dark Mavis (Stripped Back)