Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have released the official music video for ‘We’re On Our Way Now’. The first of two new singles to feature on the forthcoming release of ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’. Released on 11th June via Sour Mash Records, ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ is a definitive 18 track Best Of package, and a timely reminder of the breadth and depth of classic songs from the first decade of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Directed by Dan Cadan & Jonathan Mowatt for Rankin and inspired by French New Wave cinema, the music video for ‘We’re On Our Way Now’ stars actors Matt Smith and Gala Gordon, alongside a cameo appearance from Noel Gallagher.
Speaking about the single’s influence, Noel said: “It’s a song about not getting to say goodbye and the frustration of things left unsaid.”
Speaking about the music video, director Dan Cadan said: “It was Scully’s genius idea to pay homage to French New Wave cinema. He cut together a brilliant video using footage from the Jean-Luc Godard game-changer, ‘A Bout De Souffle’ (Breathless), to show how it would work. Everyone was convinced and so we set about writing a treatment that would pay homage to the movement, paying particular attention to that film and another Godard classic, ‘Band A Part’. Renowned for rejecting convention and tradition, French New Wave cinema has a timeless aesthetic that boldly favours experimentation and an iconoclastic spirit. NG embodies all of the above, so it’s the perfect fit.”
Actor Matt Smith said: “Doing a music video with the greatest songwriter me and my mates have ever seen, bar none – it’s a decent day at the office. I thank you NG.”
‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ is also available on limited edition deluxe formats with a bonus disc including previously unreleased acoustic versions, remixes, instrumentals and an unheard demo. There will also be a limited edition numbered, hand pressed, coloured double LP with exclusive art print released for Record Store Day on the 12th June, of which Noel Gallagher has been announced as the official ambassador for this year’s celebrations.
With his long history of supporting indie record stores, and five Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Record Store Day releases amongst the event’s best selling vinyl, Noel Gallagher is undeniably the perfect artist to take on this year’s ambassador role.
Curated and compiled entirely by Noel, the tracklisting of ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ encompasses songs from High Flying Birds’ three UK Number One albums (‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’, ‘Chasing Yesterday’ and ‘Who Built The Moon?’) and the three acclaimed EPs (‘Black Star Dancing’, ‘This Is The Place’ and ‘Blue Moon Rising’). ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ also features two brand new songs produced by Noel Gallagher & Paul ‘Strangeboy’ Stacey, ‘We’re On Our Way Now’ and ‘Flying On The Ground’.
Since establishing Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds post the legendary success of Oasis, Gallagher has never sat still creatively. He’s mastered the art of embracing an instinctive sonic evolution and creative freedom whilst never neglecting the songcraft. From the New Orleans brass powered blast of debut single ‘The Death Of You And Me’ to the self produced psych-pop and space bound experimentation of ‘Chasing Yesterday’ and the disco saturated, sonic veer of ‘Who Built The Moon?’ at the hands of renowned producer David Holmes and the subsequent EP releases, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have proven time and time again to be unshackled by genre and expectation. That Gallagher has so successfully married this bold and blistering approach with huge commercial success (over 2.4 million albums sold internationally with three UK Number One albums – marking a record breaking ten UK consecutive Number One studio albums across his career), coupled with relentless touring globally, is testament to Gallagher’s unerring ability to marry lazer guided melodies and fearless creativity.
Speaking of the timings of High Flying Birds’ Best Of, Noel says: “10 years of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds?? Blimey! … Just think of all the things I COULD have done in that time!!”
“The title just came to me one afternoon, at the kitchen table.” He continues “It’s a saying isn’t it: ‘back the way we came’. I actually thought it was a great title. Which is why it’s got vol 1. Because if there’s another one, I’m not coming up with another title!”
Now with the best part of thirty years as one of the country’s most respected and prolific songwriters under his belt, ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ celebrates another landmark in Noel Gallagher’s unparalleled career.