Prince to release two new albums on Sept. 30

Prince is set to release not only the long-promised “Plectrumelectrum” album on Sept. 30 with his new ThirdEyeGirl band, but a second new studio collection called “Art Official Age,” which is being described as “a classic Prince album.”

Both efforts are the first reeleases under his new contract with Warner Bros. Records, the label that brought him to prominence in the late 1970s.

The artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince has set up an incentive for fans to order early, offering “instant grat” tracks from each album that can be unlocked with a pre-release order over a new “Art Official Age” website created to support both albums. The albums also will be available on Amazon.com and at iTunes.

A statement on the releases issued Monday further noted that “The album releases will also be marked by a series of very special events taking place globally, to be confirmed shortly.” Details on what those events might consist of were not included.

“Prince is one of just a handful of visionary artists who have truly reshaped and redefined modern music and culture,” Warner Bros. Records Chairman and CEO Cameron Strang said in that statement. “For the past 35 years, he has never stopped evolving, challenging himself, reinventing his sound, and pushing boundaries.”

ThirdEyeGirl encompasses guitarist Donna Grantis, drummer Hannah Ford Welton and bassist Ida Nielsen, with whom Prince toured the U.S. and Europe to largely laudatory reviews. More tour dates are expected to be announced soon.

“Art Official Age” is produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince and Joshua Welton and represents “a contemporary concoction of soul, R&B and funk,” according to the release announcement.

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