Michael Jackson Xscape To Be Released In May

Michael Jackson’s second posthumous album is to be released in May.

Titled 'XSCAPE', the album will feature eight previously unreleased tracks which have been freshened up for 2014 by a palette of producers including Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins and Stargate.

The album has been executive produced by Epic Records CEO and former X Factor US judge LA Reid.

A press release on Jackson’s official website explains: “After mining by the Estate of Jackson’s archives, Reid was granted unlimited access to the treasures spanning four decades of material on which Jackson had completed his vocals.

“Reid then teamed up top producers to ‘contemporise’ the songs while retaining Jackson’s essence and integrity, creating the best music you’ve never heard.”

The album’s title track, 'XSCAPE', was written by Jackson and Jerkins, originally for his 2001 'Invincible' album, who has now ‘contemporised’ it for the new release.

The album will be released on May 13 along with a deluxe edition featuring the original versions of the unreleased recordings found in Jackson’s archives. Both the standard and deluxe editions will be available to pre-order on iTunes from tomorrow (April 1).

Jackson’s only previous posthumous album was 2010′s 'Michael', which went platinum in the UK and US.