Ibibio Sound Machine – Love
Today, Ibibio Sound Machine share “Love,” the final pre-release single from their forthcoming album Chopping Mountain, out September 11 on Merge Records.
Following the rhythmic urgency of “Return to Sender,” the infectious groove of “Concept of Love,” and the soulful collaboration with Dele Sosimi on “Give Me Peace,” “Love” reveals another side of Chopping Mountain. Drawing on the golden age of West African highlife and classic Stax soul, it’s a warm, timeless piece of songwriting that lets melody and feeling take center stage.
Built around glowing horns, rich harmonies, and Eno Williams’ unmistakable vocal, “Love” carries perhaps the simplest message on the album, but also its most universal.
Of the song, Ibibio Sound Machine say: “‘Love’ is an homage to the golden age of soulful highlife with a simple message — love!”
With just under a month until the release of Chopping Mountain, the track offers one final glimpse of a record that sees Ibibio Sound Machine reconnecting with the organic roots of their sound while embracing the electronic textures, post-punk edge, and rhythmic experimentation that have become hallmarks of their sound over the past decade. Produced by Max Grunhard and recorded at the band’s Vanguard Studios in South London, the album finds the eight-piece at their most cohesive, drawing together highlife, Afrobeat, soul, funk, and electronics into a deeply human celebration of love, togetherness, and resilience.
Following the album’s release, Ibibio Sound Machine will embark on a UK and Ireland tour this October and November, taking in dates across the country before heading to North America in early 2027.
Ibibio Sound Machine on tour:
Aug 22 Constanta, RO – Vadoo Chill Fest
Sep 05 Santa Cruz De Tenerife, ES – Phe Festival 2006
Sep 12 Reading, UK – Down at the Abbey
Oct 02 Bristol, UK – Lantern Hall
Oct 03 Cardiff, UK – Clwb Ifor Bach
Oct 07 Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
Oct 09 Dublin, IE – Button Factory
Oct 10 Birkenhead, UK – Future Yard
Oct 15 Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
Oct 16 Oxford, UK – Cowley Workers Social Club
Oct 22 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Gosforth Civic Theatre
Oct 23 Edinburgh, UK – Liquid Rooms
Oct 24 Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
Oct 25 Whitby, UK – Musicport Festival
Nov 20 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Nov 21 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Nov 25 London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall
Jan 29 Abu Dhabi, AE – The Red Theatre, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
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