Howard Jones’ Dialogue is the third album in a set of four electronic releases from Jones which began with the multi-media project Engage in 2015 and continued with 2019’s Transform, with the fourth installment, Global Citizen, coming in 2023.
Howard says, ”Dialogue was musically conceived during the pandemic and lockdown but I really didn't want to commit to any lyrics during that time out of fear that they maybe a bit down beat (not my style!). I started lyrics as things were returning to normal and I wanted them to reflect the themes of how important it is for us to communicate and talk, address our lack of confidence emerging from the isolation, and reminding ourselves of how amazing it is to be alive now even though civilization is going through unprecedented existential threats.”
For example, there’s the album’s opening track, “Celebrate It Together,” of which Howard notes ''I challenged myself to writing the most upbeat and hopeful song I had ever written. After all that we went through during our isolation, let's celebrate being together again."
In support of Dialogue, Jones hit the road for a headlining tour with his full band/electronic set-up. Along with Howard, the four-piece band is Robin Boult (guitar), Nick Beggs (bass/chapman stick), Robbie Bronnimann (keyboards/electronic wizardry) and Dan Burton (keyboards/drum pads). The Dialogue tour featured special guest and alternative music legend Midge Ure.
Dialogue’s cover art was created by Steg Read, the artist who created the cover art for Howard's debut album Human's Lib, and is available as a limited edition luxury 2 CD signed and numbered box set and on 12" 140gm black vinyl, limited to 1000 units.