Michelangelo Dying

Michelangelo Dying
Studio album by Cate Le Bon
Released	26 September 2025 (2025-09-26)
Length	43:18
Label	Mexican Summer
Producer	Cate Le Bon Samur Khouja
Cate Le Bon chronology
Pompeii (2022) Michelangelo Dying (2025)
Singles from Michelangelo Dying
"Heaven Is No Feeling" Released: 3 June 2025 "Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday)?" Released: 22 July 2025 "About Time" Released: 3 September 2025

Michelangelo Dying is the seventh studio album by Welsh singer and producer Cate Le Bon. 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. ^[1]

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". ^[2]

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." ^[2]

The picture in the centre of the album cover depicts Le Bon "drowning", surrounded by mirrors. ^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.2/10 [3]
Metacritic	88/100 [4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Clash	8/10 [6]
Exclaim!	8/10 [7]
Mojo	[8]
MusicOMH	[9]
Paste	8.2/10 [10]
Pitchfork	8.1/10 [11]
Record Collector	[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]
Uncut	8/10 [14]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Michelangelo Dying received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 14 critic scores. ^[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jerome"	4:06
2.	"Love Unrehearsed"	4:14
3.	"Mothers of Riches"	4:34
4.	"Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday)?"	5:47
5.	"Pieces of My Heart"	3:39
6.	"About Time"	3:30
7.	"Heaven Is No Feeling"	3:48
8.	"Body as a River"	4:30
9.	"Ride" (featuring John Cale)	3:53
10.	"I Know What's Nice"	5:20
Total length:		43:21

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. ^[15]

• Cate Le Bon – vocals, synthesizer, production (all tracks); guitar (tracks 1–8, 10), bass guitar (1–5, 7–10), percussion (8, 10)
• Samur Khouja – production, mixing, engineering
• Heba Kadry – mastering
• Valentina Magaletti – percussion (1–9), drums (2, 5)
• Euan Hinshelwood – saxophone (1–5, 7, 9, 10)
• Paul Jones – piano (1–5, 8, 10)
• Dylan Hadley – drums (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
• H. Hawkline – vocals (8)
• John Cale – vocals (9)

Charts

Chart performance for Michelangelo Dying

Chart (2025)	Peak position
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) [16]	68
Scottish Albums (OCC) [17]	40
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [18]	21
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [19]	9

References

1. Murray, Robin. "Cate Le Bon Announces New Album 'Michelangelo Dying'". Clash Music. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
2. Snapes, Laura. "'The breakup was like an amputation that saves you': Cate Le Bon on healing from heartache and her heavy new album". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
3. "Michelangelo Dying by Cate Le Bon Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
4. "Michelangelo Dying by Cate Le Bon Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
5. Thomas, Fred. "Michelangelo Dying – Cate Le Bon". AllMusic . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
6. Bannikov, Igor (22 September 2025). "Cate Le Bon – Michelangelo Dying | Reviews". Clash . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
7. Hill, Eric (23 September 2025). "Cate Le Bon's Craft Comes Alive in Heartbreak on 'Michelangelo Dying'". Exclaim! . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
8. Wilkinson, Roy (October 2025). "Cate Le Bon: Michelangelo Dying". Mojo : 81.
9. Hogwood, Ben (25 September 2025). "Cate Le Bon – Michelangelo Dying | Album Reviews". MusicOMH . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
10. Small, Sam (25 September 2025). "Cate Le Bon Searches For Truth and Solitude On Michelangelo Dying". Paste . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
11. Bloom, Madison (30 September 2025). "Albums: Michelangelo Dying – Cate Le Bon". Pitchfork . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
12. Curran, Shaun (October 2025). "Cate Le Bon – Michelangelo Dying". Record Collector . p. 130.
13. Dolan, Jon (24 September 2025). "Cate Le Bon Hits an Avant-Pop Peak". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
14. Martin, Piers (15 August 2025). "Cate Le Bon – Michelangelo Dying (Mexican Summer)". Uncut . No. 343 (October 2025). Yalding, Kent, England: Kelsey Media. p. 31. ISSN   1368-0722.
15. "Michelangelo Dying / Cate le Bon / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved 14 August 2025.
16. "Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums de la semaine 40, 2025" [Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums of Week 40, 2025] (in French). Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
17. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
18. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 4 October 2025.
19. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2025.