On 28th January Kscope will release acclaimed songwriter and former Mansun frontman Paul Draper’s Cult Leader Tactics, his first album since 2017’s lauded Spooky Action.
Cult Leader Tactics is a satire on the genre of self-help manuals. It details how to get to the top of your chosen profession, or how to get on in life in general and in affairs of the heart, by acting in a Machiavellian manner and employing dirty tricks or ‘Cult Leader Tactics’ to achieve your life goals.
Lyrically the album is made up of extracts from a fictitious self-help manual ‘Cult Leader Tactics’, a parody of the self-help manual genre. After experiencing these types of human behaviour and themes, the album arrives at the conclusion the only true answer in life is love.
These and other themes are subtly referenced in each song and explored on a collection of Paul’s best songwriting since Mansun’s imperial phase. Nowhere is this exemplified more than on the instantly catchy and destined to be classic, ‘You’ve Got No Life Skills, Baby!’, which is reminiscent of the best artrock-meets-pop moments of Mansun’s Attack Of The Grey Lantern.
Paul plays the majority of the instruments on Cult Leader Tactics 11-tracks, including guitars, drum machines and synthesisers, on an album produced with long-time collaborator, acclaimed producer Paul ‘P-Dub’ Walton at the latter’s Loft Studios, with additional engineering by Scott Knapper.
Cult Leader Tactics features guest appearances from revered musician and producer Steven Wilson, who co-wrote and plays on ‘Omega Man’ – a collaboration about his and Paul’s feelings of isolation during lockdown – Gamaliel ‘Gam’ Rendle Traynor from the band Sweat, who played, arranged and engineered all strings (recorded at Sweat Studios, Peckham, London), as well as a 288-person C.L.T. Lockdown Choir who sing on ‘Lyin’ Bout Who U Sleep With’.
Cult Leader Tactics tracklist:
Cult Leader Tactics
Internationalle
Dirty Trix
Cult Leader Tactics in E-Flat Minor
You’ve Got No Life Skills, Baby!
U Killed My Fish
Everyone Becomes A Problem Eventually
Annie
Talkin’ Behind My Back
Omega Man
Lyin’ ‘Bout Who U Sleep With
Cult Leader Tactics will be available on the following formats:
4CD Deluxe Book Edition, including a hardback book
Gatefold single LP
Gatefold single LP indie-only release, comes with a bonus 7” featuring a second collaboration with Steven Wilson
Gatefold single coloured LP
Digipack CD
Digital
Pre-order link: https://pauldraper.lnk.to/CultLeaderTactics
Paul and his band will undertake a 21-date tour at the end of February, playing stripped back versions of songs from the new album, Spooky Action and Mansun classics and rarities:
February
27 Sun Oxford 02 Academy 2
28 Mon Reading Sub89
March
1 Tue Chester The Live Rooms
2 Wed Leeds Brudenell Social Club
4 Fri Aberdeen The Tunnels
5 Sat Glasgow King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
6 Sun Birmingham The 02 Institute 2
8 Tue Norwich The Waterfront Studio
9 Wed Manchester Gorilla
10 Thu Hull Social On Humber Street
11 Fri Sheffield The Leadmill – The Steel Stage
12 Sat Newcastle St Doms
14 Mon Cardiff The Globe
15 Tue Exeter Phoenix
16 Wed Bristol The Fleece
17 Thur Leicester 02 Academy 2
18 Fri Bedford Bedford Esquires
20 Sun Bournemouth The Old Fire Station
21 Mon Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
22 Tue Brighton Komedia
23 Wed London Islington Assembly Hall