1. Ain’t No Lovin’
2. Lie to Me
3. Put Your Love On Me
4. I Fell in Love
5. Easy Now
6. Never Say Never
7. Man on the Run
8. Baby When You Hold Me (album version)
9. Road to Mandalay
10. Time Stands Still
11. There’s a War Going On
12. This Boy
Hamburg’s cinematic soul collective Angels of Libra return with their fifth studio album, “Road to Mandalay”, a 12-track analog soul odyssey that bridges the classic and the contemporary. Produced by Dennis Rux (Hamburg Spinners) and co-written with Hans-Christian Stephan (Meute), the album pairs vintage warmth with emotional storytelling in what is set to be the group’s most ambitious work to date.
The record reunites Angels of Libra with Irish singer-songwriter Nathan Johnston, who leads vocals on ten songs. Rising neo-soul artist Sarife takes the spotlight on the 60s-inspired “Baby When You Hold Me”, and joins Johnston for a moving duet on the closing track, a reimagining of The Beatles’ “This Boy.”
Partly inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s 1890 poem “Mandalay”, the album follows a man reflecting on lost love, peace and renewal. Johnston describes it as “falling apart and finding your way back.”
Musically, “Road to Mandalay” sits somewhere between Curtis Mayfield and Ennio Morricone, with modern echoes of Jungle and Durand Jones & The Indications. From lush strings and horns arrangements to deep grooves and cinematic production, the record balances vintage soul craft with contemporary flair.
credits
releases January 30, 2026, but exclusively available from the Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Store NOW!
2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 & 11 written by Nathan Johnston, Dennis Rux & Hans-Christian Stephan.
5 & 7 written by Nathan Johnston & Dennis Rux.
1 written by Sarife Afonso, Chris Haertel, Nathan Johnston, Dennis Rux & Hans-Christian Stephan.
8 written by Sarife Afonso, Chris Haertel, Lucas Kochbeck, David Nesselhauf, Mark Norton & Dennis Rux.
String Arrangements – Alex Hunger (1, 4, 6, 12) | Dennis Rux (1, 4, 6, 12) | Hans-Christian Stephan (2, 3, 9-11)
Horns Arrangements – Dennis Rux (1, 4-8, 12) | Hans-Christian Stephan (1-6, 9-12)
Recorded at Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studios Amp Town (1, 4-7, 12), Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studios Barmbek (2, 3, 9-11) & Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studios Altona (4-8) by Dennis Rux.
Except vocals on 2, 3, 9-11 recorded at Sound Pauli Studio by Dennis Rux.
Produced by Dennis Rux, except 2, 3, 9 & 10 produced by Dennis Rux and Hans-Christian Stephan.
Sarife Afonso – Backing Vocals (1-4, 6-10, 12) | Lead Vocals (8, 12) | Claps (8)
Nicolas Börger – Wurlitzer (2, 3, 10, 11) | Farfisa (2, 10, 11) | Hammond Organ (3, 9)
Jean Cortis – Backing Vocals (1-4, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Kimo Eiserbeck – Tenor & Baritone Sax (2, 3, 9-11) | Flute (11) | Claps (9)
Tim Ertl – Bass (2, 3, 9-11) | Claps (3)
Chris Haertel – Hammond Organ (1, 4-8, 12) | RS-09 (1, 4, 5) | Rhodes (4-6) | Piano (7, 8) | Wurlitzer (1, 12) | Hohner String Melody (5)
Marcus Hector – Trumpet (1, 4-6, 12) | Flügelhorn (12)
Alex Hunger – Violin (1, 4, 6, 12) | Viola (4, 6, 12)
Henri Jerratsch – Drums (4-7, 12)
Nathan Johnston – Lead Vocals (1-7, 9-12) | Backing Vocals (1-12) | Electric Guitar (1, 4, 6) | Acoustic Guitar (4, 5) | Tastenspiel (6) | Claps (8)
Olaf Kindt – Violin (2, 3, 9-11)
Lucas Kochbeck – Drums (1-3, 8-11) | Percussion (2, 3, 9, 10) | Claps (3, 9) | Timpani (10)
David Nesselhauf – Bass (1, 5, 7, 8)
Janik Noltenius – Percussion (1, 4-7, 12)
Mark Norton – Tenor Sax (1, 5-8, 12) | Baritone Sax (1, 4-8) | Flute (4, 8) | Percussion (8) | Claps (8)
Simon Nussbruch – Violin (1, 4, 6, 12) | Viola (4, 6) | Cello (1)
Dennis Rux – Electric Guitar (1-12) | Percussion (1, 4-8) | Claps (1, 4, 6-8) | Timpani (5, 8) | Mellotron (4, 5) | Tastenspiel (5) | Stomps (7)
Malin Stegmaier – Viola (2, 3, 9-11)
Hans-Christian Stephan – Trumpet (1-6, 9-11) | Piano (2, 9-11) | Glockenspiel (9, 10) | Mellotron (10, 11) | Claps (3, 9) | Flügelhorn (12) | Rhodes (9)
Anna Thorén – Backing Vocals (1, 6, 12)
Laurent Vianès – Bass (4, 6, 12)
Björn Wagner – Electric Guitar (2, 3, 9-11) | Claps (3, 9) | Tiple (9)
André Wittmann – Vibraphone (2, 9, 10)
