THE BLESSED MADONNA ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM
‘GODSPEED’
FEATURES INCLUDE KYLIE MINOGUE, JOY CROOKES, JOY (ANONYMOUS), JAMIE PRINCIPLE, A-TRAK, JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW & MORE
24-TRACK ALBUM DUE FORnRELEASE ON OCTOBER 11TH
PRE-ORDER HERE
LISTEN TO TITLE-TRACK ‘GODSPEED’ FT. DJ E-CLYPS HERE
The Blessed Madonna has announced the release of her long-awaited debut album, ‘Godspeed’ — listen to the title track ft. DJ E-CLYPS HERE and pre-order the album digitally and via 12” vinyl HERE.
Scheduled for release on October 11th and comprised of 24 tracks, including the singles ‘Mercy’ ft. Jacob Lusk, ‘Serotonin Moonbeams’ and UK Top 20 single, ‘Happier’ ft. Clementine Douglas, ‘Godspeed’ was written over the course of three years, detailing thousands of hours worth of work.
At 24 tracks long, the album is both a testament to Marea Stamper’s (aka The Blessed Madonna) decisive and far-reaching influence, and a homage to her roots in underground electronic music. Drawing on a rich groundswell of collaborators —from pop megastars in Kylie Minogue to long-established names at the beating heart of the US underground like Jamie Principle and A-Trak, breakout acts like Joy Anonymous and vocalists tracing classic soul (Danielle Ponder), new-age gospel (Jacob Lusk) and UK RnB (Joy Crookes) — ‘Godspeed’ explores the myriad sounds, eras and touch points that make The Blessed Madonna the artist she is today.
There are also deeply personal themes at its core. Balancing the twin flames of rave and religion — both are of crucial importance to Stamper — ‘Godspeed’ explores the full spectrum of human emotions, tackling everything from joy to grief with equal gusto.
“Godspeed: the word marks the beginning of a journey and sometimes the end of one”, Stamper explains.
“After nearly a year in lockdown, when I signed the paperwork and knew that I was going to be allowed to make this album, I called my dad in Kentucky to tell him the good news. He could not contain his pride and in a way his relief. I was going to be ok. He says it better than I do at the beginning of the record. I lost him suddenly just weeks before the first session, but his voice will live in Godspeed forever and make a million more journeys to everyone who hears it.
This is a welcome and a farewell.
The end of a journey and the beginning.
A clock running out and an alarm.
These are the days running over the hills like wild horses and nights that never end.
There is no second of this album that was not touched, heard, shaped and believed in by The Godsquad, and first and foremost my twin, my brother Pat Alvarez.
And then by some miracle Jon and Dom from Sportsbanger appeared and seemed to instantly understand how to get inside of this project and speak on my behalf in visual ways. They saw me immediately and helped me make sense. To be able to trust them was a relief, a vindication and a blessing. I have no higher respect for any group of artists.
So here it is:
This is Godspeed.
This is your chance.
Now do your dance.”
With creative direction overseen by acclaimed DIY bootlegger artists, Sports Banger, the album also makes a stirring visual statement. A black & white photograph of Stamper’s husband, Vadim, wearing a custom-made Godspeed belt buckle is depicted on the reverse of the vinyl sleeve, for example, while the vinyl’s gatefold features a collection of re-purposed club relics lifted from across The Blessed Madonna’s 30+ DJ career.
Please see below for full tracklisting.
The Blessed Madonna – ‘Godspeed’
- God Has Left The Room (Intro)
- Somebody’s Daughter
- Nowhere Fast
- Henny Hold Up Feat. Mother Marygold, Ric Wilson
- Jinterlude
- Serotonin Moonbeams
- Edge of Saturday Night with Kylie Minogue
- U Want 6 Grand 4 Wut (Interlude)
- Blessed Already Feat. Ric Wilson, Mabl
- Strength (R U Ready) Feat. Joy Crookes
- Why Trax Records Still Sucks in 24 (Interlude)
- We Still Believe Feat. Jamie Principle
- That’s The Shhh (Pure Love) (Interlude)
- Carry Me Higher Feat. Danielle Ponder
- Henterlude Feat. Joy Anonymous
- Back 2 Love Feat. Jin Jin
- Brand New Feat. James Vincent McMorrow, A-Trak
- Count On My Love Feat. Daniel Wilson, KON
- Godspeed Feat. DJ E-Clyps
- Secretariat Feat. Shaun J. Wright, KON
- Mercy (The Welcome) Feat. Jacob Lusk
- Mercy Feat. Jacob Lusk
- Your Mom <3 (Interlude)
- Happier Feat. Clementine Douglas
