The Trouble With Relationships
Mansun's third album is due for release in Summer 2000. 
 
 
Whilst song writing, Paul Draper gave hints in various interviews in 1999 to what the third album would be called, and I revealed it in February 1999: 'Magnetic Poetry'. Apparently Paul was inspired to write a song titled 'Magnetic Poetry' after receiving a set as a gift from American fan Tracy Palma. However after he had finished song writing and the band had begun recording he decided to change the working title to 'The Trouble With Relationships'. Paul felt this was appropriate to the more soulful sound they are aiming for after the previous experimental period which culminated in 'Six'. Chad has decribed the new songs as having elements of both 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern' and 'Six', with four tracks having string arrangements. They have kept with the same team of engineers and mixers (Mike Hunter & Ian Grimble) but are this time working with rock producer Hugh Padgham (unlike the usual Mark 'Spike' Stent).

In various fan interviews, internet chats (IRC), etc. Paul has revealed working-titles for the songs, though responded angrilly to his least favourite magazine NME publishing these leaked details as a news-scoop by claiming they were being put about by hoaxers. All the fans know this is bullshit, but NME fell for it hook line and sinker! Paul has also talked about the lyrics, see the Lyrics section of Mansun Heaven for more information. Some titles are less likely than others, but heres a run down of rumuored tracks on 'The Trouble With Relationships':
 
Most likely:

Quite likely: Possible: Least likely: Notes:
 
---1  Likely to be the first single
2 
 
 A take on either the book (or less likely the Terrorvision album), 'How to make friends and influence people'.
3 
 Original working-title for this album
4 
 Originally planned for release on 11EP.
5 
 Part two was on 'Six', and Chad said this part, if ever completed, would be something completely different.
6 
 This is the chemical name for Serotonin, a track on 'Six'.
 
Here is some extracts from interviews Paul Draper has done with fanzines and webmasters:

'I Can Only Disappoint You' is very, very Mansun, you can tell it¹s my song. 'Soundtrack For Two Lovers' is very much like 'The Chad Who Loved Me'. 'A Brief Liason's [working title] a ballad. How can I describe that really? We haven¹t done anything that I would say is similar to it before, but I¹d describe it as a groovy ballad.

'Rock 'n' Roll Loser' is a weird one, really really poppy, really empty and literally just a drum kit, a synthesised bass and vocals and that's it. 'Rock 'n' Roll Loser' is really weird, it sounds like the same kind of idea as 'When Doves Cry' by Prince, really empty... Chad played piano on it, there's piano and guitars and live drums, but we decided to strip a load of stuff back, and when we came to listen to it there was a lot more than there was before - that's when the magic came into the track.

Full interview in issue 5 of Smelling The Roses.

We've got a few songs that we are working on at the moment which could be a better single than 'Rock 'n' Roll Loser'. R&R is too commercial.
Has Chad or Stove written any lyrics for the new album? Is Chad doing lead vocals on any of the songs?
No and No.
Please give me 5 words (or one sentence) to describe the new album's overall sound:
Epic, Soulful, Melancholy, Sad, ROCK!
Paul talking to Mansunite Web Site, see whole interview there.