U2 have unexpectedly released a new EP, ‘Easter Lily’, featuring six previously unreleased tracks

Rome, 3 April (LaPresse) – Today saw the surprise release of ‘U2 – Easter Lily’, a new 6-track EP from U2. Whilst recording sessions for the new studio album continue, the ‘Easter Lily’ EP arrives as a second standalone collection of new music to share with fans ahead of the upcoming album. It follows on from last month’s ‘Days of Ash’ EP, released on Ash Wednesday. Whilst the ‘Days of Ash’ EP was a response to the chaotic times in the outside world, the ‘Easter Lily’ EP is a collection of far more reflective songs, emerging from a more personal and private place, where some might seek refuge in times like these, exploring themes such as friendship, loss, hope and, ultimately, renewal. ‘Song for Hal’ is a lament about the COVID-19 lockdown featuring The Edge on lead vocals, written for the band’s friend, music producer Hal Willner, who would have turned 70 on Easter Monday and who passed away almost six years ago, during this very period. ‘In a Life’ is a song celebrating friendship. ‘Scars’ is a song of encouragement and acceptance, dealing with scars and everything else, with a twist. ‘Resurrection Song’ is about a pilgrimage, a journey into the unknown with a lover or a friend. ‘Easter Parade’ is a devotional song, a celebration of new life, rebirth and resurrection. ‘ ‘COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?)’ is a lullaby for the parents of children caught up in war, with a soundscape by Brian Eno. In a note to U2’s fans, Bono said: “We’re in the studio, still busy making a loud, chaotic and ‘unreasonably colourful’ album to play live… which is U2’s true habitat. We continue to see the liveliest rock ’n’ roll as an act of resistance against all this horrible reality we see on our little screens. These are undoubtedly ‘hard times’ for many of us watching the chaos reigning out there in the world. It is a period in which our band is digging deeper into our lives to find a set of songs with which to try and face the moment… With ‘Easter Lily’, we found ourselves asking very personal questions such as: are our relationships up to the task in these difficult times? How hard do we fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the distortion of meaning that algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and does it just keep dividing us…? Or are there answers to be found in its cracks? Are there ceremonies, rituals, dances that might be missing from our lives? From the Spring ritual to Easter and its promise of rebirth and renewal… Patti Smith’s album ‘Easter’ gave me so much hope when it came out in 1978. I wasn’t even 18 yet. The title is a tribute to her. “Later on we’ll try to make a big fuss and clamour to remind the rest of the world that we exist, but in the meantime… this is a thing between you and us.” The ‘Easter Lily’ EP is accompanied by another special digital edition of the online magazine, entitled ‘U2 – Propaganda – Easter Lily’. This magazine features contributions from the four band members, including liner notes by The Edge, Adam Clayton’s piece on art and the path to recovery, a conversation between Bono and Franciscan friar Richard Rohr, and photographs taken in the studio by Larry Mullen Jr. The e-zine also features song lyrics, an article on their producer, Jacknife Lee, an article on Hal Willner written by his friend Gavin Friday… and more. Forty years ago, in February 1986, the first issue of “Propaganda” arrived in the postboxes of U2 fans around the world. Aiming to rival other fan magazines of the time, ‘Propaganda’ emerged from the DIY fanzine culture of the punk era, which embraced attitudes, ideas and dialogue.