New Michael Jackson album ‘XSCAPE’ for May 2014 release

Michael Jackson’s second posthumous album, XSCAPE, will be released in May, The Michael Jackson Estate has confirmed.

The album, which follows 2010’s Michael, will feature a collection of previously-unreleased material, including eight brand new song featuring production from the likes of Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins, Timbaland and Stargate. It’s also likely that Timbaland’s much-anticipated collaboration with Jackson on Chicago will also feature on the new release.

Project curator, and famed-producer/label owner LA Reid said “Modern music and artistry would look and sound completely different if not for the groundbreaking contributions Michael Jackson gifted to the world”, continuing “Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with. We are extremely proud and honoured to present this music to the world.”

The title of the album honours Jackson’s album-naming process. Previously, the star had always chosen a song from the album to name his projects and, beginning with Thriller, used only one-word titles, each with an edgy quality to them. This is true of the new project. Written by Michael Jackson and Jerkins, and produced by Jackson and Jerkins, XSCAPE has further significance in that it is the one track on the album that was ‘contemporized’ by the producer who recorded it originally in the studio with Michael.

XSCAPE is set for release on 13th May, and following previous rumours, is likely to be coupled with Sony’s new Xperia Z2 mobile phone, with a full release soon after. Preorders are set to open tomorrow, 1st April – watch the full teaser, below: