Supergrass Travels Down New 'Road'

U.K. rock outfit Supergrass has wrapped work on its fifth studio album, "Road to Rouen." Due Aug. 15 internationally via Parlophone, the album will be led a week beforehand by the single "St. Petersburg."

As previously reported, "Road to Rouen" was recorded in a new studio the band built in Normandy, France. A spokesperson says the album has "a relaxed feel" and is augmented by such instruments as ukulele, zither, brass and strings.

"There's one [song] that's like a cross between Frank Zappa and something very heavy, like Hawkwind," bassist Mick Quinn told Billboard.com last fall. "It will probably end up sounding really dainty when we get it onto the record, but who knows."

Supergrass will play a handful of shows this summer, including three opening dates for Coldplay. The group is also planning a series of acoustic performances closer to the release of the new album.

"Road to Rouen" is the follow-up to 2002's "Life on Other Planets," which debuted at No. 9 on the U.K. album chart. A retrospective, "Supergrass Is 10," was released last fall.

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y, Billboard - 20 June 2005