TV SMITH

"In The Arms Of My Enemy" was recorded over the course of 2007, whenever TV could find time to take a break from his 100-plus gig per year touring schedule. "I'd originally intended to make an upbeat album after the politically engaged Misinformation Overload," says TV, "but over the course of the year I found I was starting to see a lot of troubling things in the world and just had to put them into songs."

The album reflects this. After a bright and breezy start with songs like "Get It Now" and "Together Alone," as well as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of global warming, "It's Warming Up" - probably TV's funniest song yet - the lyrics soon get into deeper waters with themes including the breakdown of the bonds holding society together, "Weak Glue," the spread of faceless corporate values into our high streets and our heads - "Clone Town" - and the stunning four-and-a half minute title track "In The Arms Of My Enemy," which paints a picture of a world where ordinary people are deceived and destroyed by their political masters.

Along the way, we get songs such as "Backstage Bob" - dedicated to one of TV's fans, who died a year ago from a brain tumour. "Like most of my fans, he was a friend too, and always willing to help me out in any way he could. He never wanted any credit, and would be embarrassed to know I wrote a song about him, but for me friendship is one of the most important things in life, and I wanted to finally put him 'onstage' instead of 'backstage,'" says TV.

The album ends on a note of hope and and optimism with the epic "My Trojan Horse," one of TV's most beautiful and haunting ballads, with the message that whatever happens in the world, the good will survive and win through.

To go with the overall lyrical themes of friendship and human values on the album, TV gathered together some of his best friends and favourite musicians to play on the songs. "I felt it was time to bring together the best of what I've learnt from the last thirty years of music. I knew I has a really strong collection of songs, and wanted to invite a team of people who I knew would understand them to interpret them." Once again, Vom Ritchie's powerhouse drumming underpins the sound of the album, combined with the genius guitar work of the legendary Tim Renwick, who has been friends with TV since he first played on some of his demos in the mid-80's - but is probably better known for his work with David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Al Stewart, Eric Clapton and many others. "It's always an honour for me to have Renwick on my records," says TV. "It's strange, because I came out of the punk rock era, which set out to destroy many of the bands he was in. But in the end, all that counts is talent. Renwick loves my songs and and I love his guitar playing, and that breaks down all the barriers about whether it's "punk" or not. Everyone on this album is on the same wavelength." Once again co-producing with TV and playing keyboards is Tim Cross, TV's regular musical partner since he joined The Adverts for their second album in 1978. As well as piano, Tim plays a variety of exotic instruments including Indian percussion bells, and even trombone. The result is a fusion of styles that sometimes touches on the full-on punk rock of “The Adverts,” and sometimes recalls the acoustic approach of "March Of The Giants."

When the recordings were finished, TV handed over the results to be mixed by Jon Caffery, famous for his production work with German superstars Die Toten Hosen. "It's a totally independent album, made with no help from the music business and most of the recording were made at home," says TV. "I wanted to put it in a safe pair of hands to mix at the end, and I knew I could trust Jon to get the best out of what we'd recorded. He hasn't let me down." The pair have previously worked together on "Useless" and "Misinformation Overload."

"For this album I think I have my best collection of songs ever, and I've had some of the best times of my life recording them with some of my best friends," says TV. "'In The Arms Of My Enemy' feels like the album that I've been waiting thirty years to make..."