The Andy Gill-led Gang of Four will mount an 18-date U.S. tour in February ahead of the release of the post-punk legends’ first new album in four years, a 10-song collection called Happy Now that was previewed this year via the band’s Complicit EP. Full details and tour dates here.

Robert Smith called into Sirius XM this week to chat about The Cure’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, and, along the way, revealed that work is nearing completion on the band’s first new album since 2008 and a Tim Pope-shot film of the group’s huge 40th anniversary concert in London.

Ian Brown, the once-again-former lead singer of The Stone Roses, will release his first new solo album in a decade next year, a 10-song collection called Ripples that is preceded by the release of lead-off single, and lead-off track, “First World Problems” — which you can hear right here.

Ten years into their current reunion, The Specials have announced they’ll release a new album titled Encore next year, the band’s first collection of original material in two decades and its first recordings with original lead singer Terry Hall since the 1981 single “Ghost Town.” Full details, including tracklist, right here.

Bob Mould, the legendary frontman of Hüsker Dü and Sugar, is back with a new album and single — both called Sunshine Rock — that he says find him looking on the brighter side of things after a few years living abroad. Or, more simply, “This is not Black Sheets of Rain.” He’s also going on tour next year.

Goth-rock legends Alien Sex Fiend return next month with Possessed, their first new studio album in eight years and one that will have diehards snatching up both the CD and double-LP editions, as each carries specific mixes exclusive to that format. Full details and tracklist right here.

Karl Wallinger’s got big plans for 2019, with a new World Party studio album — the band’s first in 19 years — planned for release along with  reissues of the group’s full catalog on vinyl for the first time throughout the year, beginning with 1986 debut Private Revolution. The new album is expected in the spring.

The enigmatic Dead Can Dance — led by co-founders and mainstays Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard — today announced the release for their ninth studio album, a song cycle of “seven movements representing different facets of the Dionysus myth and his cult.” The group also announced a European tour for spring 2019.

Cherry Red Records this fall will update The Fall’s 2004 compilation 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong by expanding it to 58 tracks across three discs, bringing it up to date with the inclusion of music up to and including the title track from the late Mark E. Smith’s final album. Full tracklist right here.

Post-punk warriors Wire have announced plans to enter the studio next month to begin work on the band’s 17th album, as well as early explorations into making “a film about Wire by Wire” — a documentary that may ultimately be funded by fans through Kickstarter. The band also is touring Europe later this year.

Less than a month after being forced to cut a tour short to recover from cancer treatment, Elvis Costello has announced his next studio album with his long-running combo The Imposters (ie, most of The Attractions) and debuted two of the songs that will appear on that record. Check out the songs here.

Paul Weller returns this September with his 14th solo album, a record called True Meanings that features “lush orchestration” and is being described as the “most singer-songwriter style album he has ever made.” It features guest turns by Rod Argent of the Zombies and Noel Gallagher. Check out the full tracklist.

New Zealand indie-pop legends The Chills — the Martin Phillipps-led group that long has carried the banner for the Dunedin sound — will return in September with a new album titled Snow Bound, and you can already get an earful of two songs off new record. Stream them both right here.