Crimson/Red

Crimson/Red is the ninth studio album by the English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released in the United Kingdom on 7 October 2013. The album title is a reference to Mark Rothko. The album was made available on vinyl and CD on the Icebreaker records label. A limited edition box set featuring an interview CD was also released. 200 of these were available as signed copies. The lead single was "The Best Jewel Thief in the World." A video for this track (produced by Tylar Cornak) was originally posted to Vimeo. Crimson/Red also confirmed that Prefab Sprout was now in effect a solo project, with Paddy McAloon singing, playing and programming all of the music on the album on his own. In interviews at the time, McAloon explained that his health issues (in particular, the deterioration of his hearing) now dictated the way in which Prefab Sprout music was recorded, making it impractical and even impossible for any other musicians to be involved; but that he remained fond of and grateful to his former bandmates. Crimson/Red was a chart success for Prefab Sprout. The album debuted at No. 15 in the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their highest charting record since Andromeda Heights in 1997.