HAVING called a temporary halt to The Wedding Present in 1997, David Gedge returns with a new line-up, a new album and a live tour.

After almost an eight-year hiatus, David Gedge will tour with Terry de Castro, John Maiden and Simon Cleave, a member of the previous Wedding Present line-up.

In 1998, Cinerama became the primary creative output for Gedge, with his then girlfriend Sally Murrell. Darker in tone and stylistically more guitar driven, the band mixed in the odd Wedding Present song in the their live sets. After Gedge's break up with his girlfriend of 14 years, he moved to Seattle and began writing a series of songs that appear to be influenced by his despair over the split.

'Take Fountain', is a body of heartfelt songs and an album that is the equal, if not surpassing, anything The Wedding Present has previously recorded and released. Featuring the singles 'Interstate 5' and 'I'm From Further North Than You', the new album will not disappoint fans of the band who stubbornly refused to play the record industry's game since their inception.

"The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the Rock 'n' Roll era. You may dispute this, but I'm right and you're wrong!" John Peel.

The Wedding Present play Liverpool Carling Academy on 20 February, Manchester University on 23 February and Leeds University on 6 March. 'Take Fountain' is released on 14 February.