Bob Dylan names new album

Bob Dylan's first album of new songs in five years will be called ‘Modern Times’ and released on August 28, according to an inside source at his US record company, Sony-BMG.

A number of hand-picked journalists were given a playback of the album in New York City last week but were required to sign legal undertakings not to talk about what they heard. One record company source described the album as similar in style to 2001's ‘Love & Theft’. Another source claimed the dozen songs include "at least three masterpieces".

Tracks planned for the new record include 'Thunder On The Mountain', 'Spirit On The Water', 'Workingman's Blues' and 'When The Deal Goes Down'.

It appears unlikely that any of the new material will feature in the set-list for his imminent UK and European dates. None of the songs from 'Modern Times' were premiered on Dylan's recent US tour, which wound-up in Florida last month.

He plays Cardiff International Arena on June 27 and Bournemouth International Centre on May 28.

For ticket availability go to NME.COM/Gigs.