Michelangelo Dying is the seventh studio album by Welsh singer and producer Cate Le Bon. Produced by Le Bon and Samur Khouja, it was released on 26 September 2025 by Mexican Summer.
Background and recording The album was made between Hydra, Cardiff, London, and Los Angeles. The album was finished in the Joshua Tree desert.
Le Bon revealed the album was meant to come out a year earlier in 2024, but felt too sick and exhausted after a break-up. Le Bon described the album as: "realising you've completely abandoned yourself in the throes of this all-encompassing love. The breakup was always like an amputation that you don't really want, but you know will save you."
Packaging The album's packaging and imagery was inspired by artist Colette Lumiere's installation Recently Discovered Ruins of a Dream, which depicts a woman lying in a chamber draped in fabric, while mirrors line the floor. Le Bon said: "That's what I really wanted the record to feel like, you can roll up your sleeves and take something on, then you have a rest, because something is resolved." The picture in the centre of the album cover depicts Le Bon "drowning", surrounded by mirrors.
Critical reception
Year-end lists Publication List Rank AllMusic Favorite Singer/Songwriter Albums N/A The 50 Best Albums of 2025 26 The 50 Best Albums of 2025 23 Mojo The 75 Best Albums of 2025 28 Record Collector The Best of 2025: New Albums Top 25 14 Rolling Stone The 55 Best Indie-Rock Albums of 2025 34 Uncut Best New Albums of 2025 46 Under the Radar Top 100 Albums of 2025 70
Track listing
Personnel Except where noted, credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.
Musicians Cate Le Bon – synthesisers, vocals, arrangement (all tracks); guitars (except track 9), bass (except 6), piano (5), percussion (8, 10) Valentina Magaletti – percussion (except 10), drums (2, 5) Euan Hinshelwood – saxophones (except 6) Paul Jones – piano (1–4, 8, 10), synthesiser (9) Dylan Hadley – drums (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10) H. Hawkline – vocals (8) John Cale – vocals (9)
Technical Samur Khouja – production, engineering, mixing Cate Le Bon – production Stephen Black – additional engineering Euan Hinshelwood – additional engineering Dustin Boyer – engineering of John Cale's vocals at Arm Studios, Los Angeles (9) Heba Kadry – mastering
Design H. Hawkline – art direction, photography, design Cadi Lane – fabric walls Christian Fritzenwanker – hair and makeup Kim Howells – stylist
Charts + Chart performance for Michelangelo Dying Chart (2025) Peakposition French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) 68 UK Albums Sales (OCC) 21
References