Mark Stewart “The Fateful Symmetry” CD

Pioneering and still hugely influential artist Mark Stewart has released his eighth solo album, The Fateful Symmetry, completed just before his sudden death in April 2023. This is a monumental work that represents the culmination of his groundbreaking career with The Pop Group, Mark Stewart & Maffia, and as a solo artist!

"Preferences are a form of self-censorship." --Mark Stewart

The Fateful Symmetry further cements Stewart's legacy as what The Guardian described as "a beloved counterculture musician", and is as bold and visionary as his best work.

Lead single and album opener "Memory of You," co-produced by Youth (Killing Joke) and featuring backing vocals from Holly Cook, is a propulsive post-disco torch song, a neo-noir track with lustful vocals and stylish, menacing synths that delivers one of Stewart's most dramatic and moving performances.

Like much of Stewart's work, the song subverts conventions and expectations.

"There's a way to use love songs as a Trojan horse, to sugar coat poison and infiltrate people's minds. On the surface it's about 'if only I loved you' but it's actually about yearning and dreaming of a better world. For me, 'love' is a political act," Youth says.
"Memory of You shows that Mark was not only a fine singer, but also a skilled songwriter... The melodies and lyrics have the timeless appeal of The Walker Brothers or 1950s crooners like Frank Sinatra, yet are cutting edge."

The song's short film was created by filmmakers Peter Harris and Hugo Glendinning. Harris met Mark Stewart in 2020 and the pair began a show together called "BOMBART" on Radio Alhara, after which they have collaborated on several artworks and music. He is also known for his artistic collaborations with Lee "Scratch" Perry.

A testament to Stewart's boundless creative talent and one of his most visceral and powerful messages, The Fateful Symmetry is an astoundingly expressive and innovative work -- an intense and beautiful manifesto for a better world.

Mark Stewart was a unique and extraordinary man. He always refused to be "ordinary" and was always special.

The Fateful Symmetry will be released on July 11th, 2025 on longtime partner label Mute, under the direction of his friend and kindred spirit Daniel Miller.

"Mark Stewart is my hero" -- Daddy G (Massive Attack)

"A formidable vocalist and an incredibly inspiring frontman, to whom I owe a great deal" -- Nick Cave

"Art and politics in Bristol would be very different without Mark's influence" -- Geoff Barrow, Portishead