The renowned new-wave reggae bassist ‘Sting’ is set to premiere his 11th studio album, a reflection upon working-class life in the Tyneside shipyards, at the small Anspacher playhouse in New York this autumn.

The circumstances however, seem confused. There is no evidence that he will premiere his Geordie dirges in the UK (despite the fact that it commemorates an institution that has little reference in America) and the purpose of his unique run of 10 show’s seems to be in aid of the non-profit charity ‘Public Theatre’ (which aims to make thespianism universally accessible) rather than for his fans sake.

This is not necessarily a surprise; Sting has played all manner of roles from Eddy’s uncle in ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ to Feyd-Rautha in David Lynch’s ‘Dune’, making him a likely if not spuriously deserving patron. There is also talk of the LP being made into a Broadway show, penned by Skyfall’s John Logan and Pulitzer prize-winner Brian Yorkey, a feat they hope to accomplish by 2014. The fact that the album is not being officially toured as a musical entity remains slightly clandestine, but arguably pays testament to the fact Sting is both looking for new mediums of expression and on the decline, concerning the 61 year-olds performing ability.

As far as ‘The Last Ship’ goes, it’s a departure from the counter-tenor gallivanting’s of Dowland’s compilation ‘Songs From The Labyrinth’ and ‘If On a Winter’s Night’, but the cringe-worthiness has merely been transferred to what Yorkey described in the New York Times as “great theatre music”, that is to say a combination of blatant lyrical narrative, spoken word and musical mood atmospheres. Ultimately it’s not the good old days, but having said that, the leaked track ‘Practical Arrangement’ does consist of some interesting harmonic progressions, pretty melodies and trademark smoky vocals.

Maybe, once the show is on the road we will be able to see this creation performed in England, but until then, the album comes out on the 24 September 2013.