Blondie is set to return with a new studio album that blends the band’s classic style with a range of new musical influences. The album, titled High Noon, will be the group’s 12th studio release and their first set of new songs since Pollinator was released in 2017.
Fronted by singer Debbie Harry and featuring guitarist Chris Stein, Blondie mattered a lot in shaping the new-wave and punk movements that developed in New York during the 1970s. Over the years, the band has established a lasting reputation for blending rock, punk, disco, pop, and electronic elements. The new album maintains this approach while also drawing on the musicians’ current experiences and creative interests.
The news came with the debut of “Spectral Eyes, ” the first single from High Noon. Co-written by former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr who also plays guitar, the song explodes with energy and is a taste of what the band is working on in the studio.
Marr’s participation adds to a creative collaboration with the band that dates back to their last album, Pollinator. His addition adds another flavor to a project that is rooted in the band’s style but leans on outside writers and performers.
Harry explained that on high noon the band combined various eras and influences to create a new sound. She added that the album was a snapshot of the present and not just a replication of what the band had accomplished previously.
The new album is also a collaboration of many with what feels like the entire alternative music world in the guest lineup. Apart from Marr, other guests include Sex Pistols legend Glen Matlock, Beirut’s Zach Condon, and the vocal group Lucius’s Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig.
Blondie has a history of collaborating with artists beyond its known musical group. The record is said to contain 13 tracks that build in a mixture of punk rock, Latin, and dance music.
Producer John Congleton, also responsible for the production of Pollinator, returns for this record. David Wrench lent his hand in production and mixing.
The sessions in New York began in 2022 and carried on for several years. By taking their time, they were able to come up with several ideas before finalising the project.
High Noon is in particular meaningful as it features the last recordings by original drummer Clem Burke, who passed away in April 2025 at the age of 70. Burke contributed to the early sound of Blondie, setting the beat behind many of the band’s hit songs.
His work on tracks including “Heart of Glass, ” “Call Me” and “One Way or Another” was instrumental in shaping the sound of the band. The forthcoming record then not only marked a new phase in the band’s creativity, but a permanent record of Burke’s impact.
For fans of the band, the album gives a chance to listen to the drummer’s output on a collection of songs assembled months before his death. It is a testament to the musical collaboration between Harry and Stein, both of whom have been integral to Blondie’s signature sound for many years.
