The fourth Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan album, The Nation’s Most Central Location, will be released on 19 May 2023. This album sees Gordon Chapman-Fox (the man behind Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan) explore the north-south divide and reflect on 40 years of broken ‘levelling up’ promises.
With eight tracks across 40 minutes, the album offers Gordon’s usual mix of mournful remorse and upbeat optimism. Gordon has now added an underlying anger that burns through on tracks such as London’s Moving Our Way and A Brighter And More Prosperous Future.
As with all previous releases, Castles In Space will release the album on vinyl, CD, digital and streaming. The vinyl comes in three variants – solid orange, transparent orange and smokey orange. The smokey orange variant will be exclusive to Rough Trade record stores and comes with a limited edition signed postcard.
The previous, highly acclaimed album, Districts, Roads, Open Space, will be reissued on a second vinyl pressing on 19 May 2023. Again, there will be an exclusive edition to Rough Trade record stores.
A promotional video for the new album will be released on Friday 21 April. The track, Busway, is an optimistic ode to Runcorn’s unique bus route, connecting all communities and free from other traffic.
Live dates
To coincide with the release of the record on 19 May 2023, Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan will be appearing with Warp legend The Black Dog, Jo Johnson and A’Bear at Levitation23: Docking Station. The week before sees two sell out headlining gigs at the Iklectik Art Space in Lambeth, London.
More live dates last over the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2023, including appearances at Deer Shed Festival, Krankenhaus Festival, Exeter Phoenix and more. Further live appearances can be found here.
What people said about Districts, Roads Open Space
This impeccably crafted and beautifully realised album fulfils the purpose of all good art and asks question after question after question.
Juno
‘Districts, Roads, Open Space’ is a striking piece that is the work of a strong, forward-moving force in British electronica.
Birthday Cake For Breakfast
No.5 – Albums of the Year 2022
Electronic Sound
No.5 – Albums of the Year 2022
Norman Records
No.3 – Best Electronic/Ambient Album of the Year 2022
Piccadilly Records