New significant longplayers
25 July 2025
MARK STEWART, one of the most adventurous/inventive/original
post-punk & dub artists/performers ever, passed away 2 years,
aged 62.
He was a founding member of genre-bending new wave group THE POP GROUP
who shocked lots of right-wing ears and minds with their first two LPs, Y (1979)
and For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? (1980).
Afterward, everybody went their own way, but they reunited in the 21st Century
for 2 more longplayers, Citizen Zombie (2015) and Honeymoon On Mars (2016).
As a prolific solo artist, he scored 7 LPs, collaborated with countless
other artists, and caused poignant waves with his Mafia outfit.
Here’s his new solo one, named THE FATEFUL SYMMETRY
released posthumously by Mute Records.
Album artwork
English indie label Mute Records issued this statement.
“Mute is extremely honoured to announce Mark Stewart’s new solo album ‘The Fateful Symmetry’, a vital masterwork completed early 2023. Testifying to his prolific, unrelenting ingenuity, and signifying one of his most intimate, empowering statements, The Fateful Symmetry is a fierce and beautiful manifesto for a better world. “
TUTV: Posthumous releases of favorite artists have two sides. One, you get reminded about the passing of a beloved musician, and two, you get excited as new material is offered. In this case, very good new material. No archives dump, or out-takes, weird rarities and other low-quality stuff. The Faithfull Symmetry is a splendid, final opus by a unique musical mind.
Stewart‘s expresses again his mixed emotions about humanity and its messy planet. Both pessimistic and optimistic reflections, but always with sparks of hope. Musically, it’s a very accessible pop record with several crooning musings, This Is The Rain, Twilight Child, Crypto Religion, and the wonderful, goosebumps closer A Long Road (made me instantly think of his good friend and fan Nick Cave).
His characteristic, captivating voice, both heartrending and heartwarming at the same time, feels so real, so close, and as always, engaged and genuine. Mark Stewart was one of a kind and will always be in my book. Thank you, Mute Records, for this posthumous treasure, one to cherish
SINGLES
STREAM/BUY ALBUM