Long-loved and missed UK TV mockumentary The Office has seen something of a comeback this month, with the strange and wonderful news that David Brent (as in, the character portrayed by comedian and star Ricky Gervais) is releasing an an entire album. It’s called Life on the Road. For anyone who has ever watched the show, this should come as pretty amazing news.

The band are officially known as David Brent and Foregone Conclusion, and recently released their first single Lady Gypsy.

Now, Gervais has shared another new video via Facebook, of David Brent covering the famously lovelorn Simply Red ballad If You Don’t Know Me By Now.

In the video, we see Brent donning a flowy white shirt, offering the listener home comforts and a glass of wine. Through the overly soft, overexposed warm lighting, we see Brent’s troubled relationship with a woman, and him passionately lamenting to the camera.

It’s hard to fully describe this in words. You really do need to just watch it.

https://www.facebook.com/rickygervais/videos/452764011514624/

Life On The Road is out August 19th via Caroline Australia. The above cover doesn’t feature on the album, but you can find the tracklist below and get excited for what’s bound to be a pretty ridiculous release:

David Brent Life On The Road, tracklisting:
1. Ooh La La
2. Native American
3. Lonely Cowboy
4. Free Love Freeway
5. Life On The Road
6. Slough
7. Thank Fuck It’s Friday
8. Lady Gypsy
9. Please don’t Make Fun Of The Disableds
10. Paris Nights
11. Don’t Cry It’s Christmas
12. Spaceman
13. Equality Street
14. Aint No Trouble
15. Electricity

Image: Facebook

For many of us, The Office (in its British and therefore far superior form) was so good because its sheer accuracy was nothing short of mindblowing. Ricky Gervais’ reptilian middle-managerial buffoon David Brent in particular brought to mind swathes of actual real-life managers out there and now, with a motion picture on the way, Gervais as Brent is set to release his accompanying debut album.

Life On The Road is the title of both the album and the film, the latter documenting Brent’s new life as a travelling salesman 12 years from where The Office left off as he chases his dream of becoming a huge rock star on a self-funded tour with his long-time band Foregone Conclusion.

The first single has already been released, Lady Gypsy narrating the rollicking folk rock story of Brent’s lost virginity to a travelling gypsy woman. The film clip will make you laugh but probably also cringe so hard your neck might disappear permanently. David Brent in a muscle top staring seductively into the camera might permanently sear itself into your retinas too.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jQD3EjukimI

With a track list boasting other titles like Lonely Cowboy, Thank Fuck It’s Friday and Don’t Cry It’s Christmas, it looks all but assured that David Brent will be in most tragic form across the entire record.

David Brent & Foregone Conclusion also have a few huge shows at London’s institutional Hammersmith Apollo on the 7th and 8th of August just a couple of weeks shy of Life On The Road’s official theatrical release.

If you’re a fan of The Office, Life On The Road should be essential viewing and listening. You can pre-order it here. 

Life On The Road is out August 19th via Caroline Australia.

Image: Youtube