Fans given 'Absolution' by Muse (20030809 NME article)
A short article about the pre-release playback of Absolution in the 9th August 2003 issue of NME magazine.
Matt Bellamy (centre) kidnaps two NME readers and takes them away on his spaceship. Probably
Fans given 'Absolution' by Muse
MATT BELLAMY MAKES SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT EXCLUSIVE PLAYBACK AT THE LONDON PLANETARIUM
Muse took over London's Planetarium last week to give fans the chance to hear their new album 'Absolution' before anyone else. Some lucky NME competition winners also got o meet the band.
NME readers Jo Meyer and Joe Read met singer Matt Bellamy before heading into the Planetarium's theatre to listen to 'Absolution' under projections of the night sky and distant galaxies.
"As images of space are generally a good influence on our music, we chose the Planetarium for this," Bellamy told NME. "It fits in really well with the album - looking at the world from an objective point of view."
Matt also revealed the meaning behind 'Absolution''s striking cover, which shows a man with a gas mask staring into the sky.
"The bloke's looking ambiguous and unusual," he said. "He's stood there and he's holding a gas mask to look like he's protecting himself from something - an end-of-the-world scenario. But something's happened and he's taken it off.
"He's looking up and it's Judgement Day. The aliens have either come down to earth or the chosen ones are flying away - and he's looking up kind of thinking, 'Why haven't I been chosen?' I think from that point of view sometimes!
Muse will be heading out on tour later in the year, which is likely to follow in the extra-terrestrial theme.
"I'm building a big keyboard thing with lights so every time I hit a note a big light flashes - like some sort of spaceship piano," Bellamy joked. "Like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind!"
Muse release their new single 'Time Is Running Out' on September 8, followed by 'Absolution' on September 22.
'ABSOLUTION' FABULOUS?
What did Muse fans make of the band's new album?
"It's great from start to finish. I love the first track - 'Apocalypse Please'. Listening to it in the Planetarium was a great experience."
Favourite track: All of them
Jake, 25
"Phenominal - absolutely out there. I've got to wait now to get the album - it isn't fair! It blew me away!"
Favourite track: 'Time Is Running Out'
Adam, 20
"It was what I expected, the usual pomp rock. But it was a really good idea playing it in the Planetarium."
Favourite track: 'Sing For Absolution'
Clara, 18
"I thought it was a bit shit. It was a too prog, too overproduced and it didn't rock enough. There's no 'Plug In Baby' or 'New Born' and the ballads are cheesy and embarassing."
Favourite track: 'TSP'
Joe, 22
"I think it's quite apocalyptic. You can see reflections of their influences: some bits are like Radiohead and some are like Marilyn Manson."
Favourite track:
'Time Is Running Out'
Jo, 18