The Durutti Column return with a new album Idiot Savants, the first to feature new vocalist Poppy Roberts who also co-wrote one of the tracks.

'Poppy reminds me of a Mick Jagger figure,' says The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly. 'Not in a masculine way but her attitude is very confident. I think for the first time I've found the Mick to my Keith!'

The album opens with the gorgeous 'Better Must Come' which is built around a sample from an African hip hop track which in turn is based on an old Jamaican children's song. The equally beautiful 'Interleukin 2' was written by Reilly for his old friend and Factory founder Tony Wilson who sadly died. 'He was a very dear friend. I sent him this track for him to chill out and listen to while he was in hospital and he gave it the title 'Interleukin' which was one of the drugs they were giving to him.'

The nine minute long 'Please Let Them Sleep' is one of the album's most ambitious tracks, opening with Spanish guitar before twisting into a darker, bleakly observational mood, while the closing 'That Blows My Name Away' was written for Reilly's girlfriend Rachel. One of the album's highlights 'Gathering Dust' is the co-write with Poppy Roberts, who will be performing many of the songs live when the band tour later this year. 

'I've enjoyed making this album more than anything for a long time and I do feel I'm getting more focused in what I do,' explains Reilly, who a couple of years ago was described as 'the best guitarist in the world' by John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  'I haven't achieved what I want to yet but I'm getting old and time is running out! I've got to make a decent album soon....'

Reilly is, of course, being modest to the point of self-destruction. Factory Records released the band's debut album The Return Of The Durutti Column in 1979. Produced by Martin Hannett, this edgy, primitive LP showcased Vini Reilly's 'honey wrapped in sandpaper' guitar playing and set the tone for nearly 30 years of meditative and fearless music. Reilly has drawn on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, ambient and heavy metal; experimented with samplers and chamber music, and collaborated with other Manchester luminaries such as Morrissey and Peter Hook from New Order.