The five-disc World Party box set announced last month will be released April 10 and comprised entirely of previously unreleased material: 70 never-before-heard tracks including new songs and an ‘unheard history of rare studio gems, live sessions, concert recordings, radio interviews, covers, demos and B-sides.’

Karl Wallinger’s long-dormant World Party today announced plans for a forthcoming 5-disc box set called ‘Arkeology’ that will feature new songs, live recordings and cover versions, as well as ‘lots of pictures,’ liner notes and something called the ‘the amazing any-year diary.’

Citing an ‘unforeseen illness,’ the Karl Wallinger-led World Party today canceled a string of upcoming concerts in New York City and at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas — but promised to ‘return this summer for a whole tour of the U.S.A.’

With a new multi-disc box set of live and studio rarities due this spring, Karl Wallinger will kick off World Party’s 25th anniversary year with five concerts at South By Southwest and in New York City in March — a prelude for the band’s ‘most extensive U.S. tour since 2006.’

Karl Wallinger’s second album under the World Party banner — ‘Goodbye Jumbo,’ a ’60s-soaked pop-rock gem featuring hit singles ‘Put the Message in the Box’ and ‘Way Down Now’ — was released 20 years ago today.