In an unprecedented fusion of music history and cutting-edge technology, The Beatles are set to release what is being hailed as their final ever record. The project, spearheaded by acclaimed director Peter Jackson, utilises groundbreaking artificial intelligence to isolate and clarify John Lennon's voice from a decades-old cassette demo.
The track, titled 'Now And Then', was originally a rough home recording made by Lennon in the late 1970s. It was given to the remaining Beatles by Yoko Ono in the 1990s, but technical limitations at the time prevented them from separating Lennon's vocals and piano from the pervasive background buzz.
The Technological Breakthrough
Peter Jackson's team, fresh from their work on the critically acclaimed 'Get Back' documentary, developed a bespoke AI system capable of the impossible. This same 'machine learning' technology was used to remix the audio for the 2022 documentary, allowing for the stunning clarity heard in the recent 'Revolver' re-release.
'We were able to take John's voice and get it pure,' Jackson explained. 'So then you could mix the record absolutely cleanly, as if all the guys were in the studio together today.' This technological miracle provided Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with the key ingredient to finally finish the song.
A Fitting Finale
The completion of 'Now And Then' serves as the emotional centrepiece for Jackson's new Disney+ documentary series, 'The Beatles: Anthology'. This new project will revisit and expand upon the original 1990s series, offering fans a deeper, more intimate look at the band's journey.
The release marks the culmination of a long journey for the band members. McCartney and Starr have added their own parts, and the recording also features George Harrison's guitar work from the 1995 sessions. The result is a poignant and historic collaboration across time, offering fans a truly final chapter in The Beatles' storied catalogue.
