Adrian Sherwood Releases The Well Is Poisoned Ahead of First Solo Album in 13 Years

Legendary UK producer Adrian Sherwood has unveiled The Well Is Poisoned, the third single from his highly anticipated new album The Collapse Of Everything, out August 22 via multiple formats including clear and black 12” LP vinyl, CD, digital download, and streaming platforms. The release marks Sherwood’s first solo album in 13 years and finds him pushing his signature dub sound into more cinematic, experimental realms.

A Cinematic Dub Journey

The Well Is Poisoned embodies the widescreen vision of Sherwood’s latest work. Built around an epic bass line, cavernous snare hits, and the haunting cry of saxophone, the track unfolds like a film score infused with deep dub sensibility. Adding to its weight is the fact that it was co-written with Brian Eno, Sherwood’s longtime friend and collaborator in sonic experimentation. The single arrives with an animated visualizer created by artist Peter Harris and animator Katie King, extending the music’s surreal and immersive qualities.

The Collapse Of Everything

Across the new record, Sherwood channels a lifetime of listening and producing into a fluid, genre-defying project that is at once reflective and expansive. While underpinned by dub techniques, the music ventures into ambient washes, desert blues textures, tuned percussion experiments, and hallucinogenic soundscapes. “I was basically trying to make a soundtrack encompassing all the things I like including good musicianship, dub techniques, and also good rhythms,” Sherwood explains.

The album’s title carries personal resonance. Sherwood cites the passing of two close collaborators, Mark Stewart and Keith LeBlanc, as the catalyst for revisiting solo work after more than a decade. Stewart had written a lyric containing the phrase “The Collapse of Everything”, which struck Sherwood as both a poignant tribute and a reflection of today’s political and environmental crises.

From the Studio to the Stage

For the first time in his career, Sherwood will also step out as a solo live performer, touring internationally with his own band. The live show premieres this autumn at the Dub Sessions 20th Anniversary in Japan and will feature long-time collaborators including Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Tackhead), Alex White (Primal Scream, Fat White Family), and Mark Bandola (The Lucy Show). A major London show is planned for February 2026, with further dates across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Sherwood reflects on this new chapter: “I’ve made record after record as a producer for other artists, and I’m proud of every single one. But doing it as a solo artist I get the choice to call every shot. On this album it’s going to be a joy working it and trying to represent it live, and hopefully people will get off on it, because I think it’s a really good piece of work.”

A Career of Constant Evolution

Adrian Sherwood’s career has long paralleled his work as producer, performer, and label founder. From his groundbreaking On-U Sound label to his collaborations with reggae legends like Lee “Scratch” Perry and Dennis Bovell, his production has shaped the sound of countless artists. His solo albums—Never Trust a Hippy, Becoming A Cliché, and Survival & Resistance—each revealed a different dimension of his artistry, from rhythm-heavy experimentation to conceptual sound worlds.

With The Collapse Of Everything, Sherwood continues that evolution, stepping forward not just as a producer but as a composer, performer, and front-facing artist ready to bring his sonic vision to global stages.