Today, Arab Strap share “You’re Not There”, another taster of what is to come with the forthcoming new album “I’m totally fine with it don’t give a f**k anymore ” out 10th May via Rock Action Records.
“You’re Not There” is a song about a man who still talks to his deceased wife via text message. Aidan Moffat says; “It’s a very common part of the grief process now, and it can help the bereaved come to terms with their loss. I love the idea that our phones can function as a kind of modern Ouija board – the difference of course being that most people aren’t expecting an answer.”
The track started out life as a piano piece by Malcolm Middleton called “Joshua’s Gone” which was inspired by his son’s melted snowman. Aidan continues “…so it seems it was always destined to be a song about loss and impermanence.”
Watch the lyric video for “You’re Not There” – BELOW:
Almost 28 years after their debut, Arab Strap have never sounded more essential, and this new record is a fierce testament to their laser focus on wider horizons. Written and performed exclusively by Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat, and finessed with longtime collaborator Paul Savage, the album furthers the band’s transformation from swooning, slow-core romantics to raging, alt-pop chroniclers.
“I’m totally fine with it don’t give a f**k anymore “ might sound like the title of an album by a band giving up (it’s just a text from the band’s live drummer that Moffat thought was funny), but in reality it’s an album that stands to clearly define a new creative period for Arab Strap. With the band having recently wrapped up a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1998 album ‘Philophobia’, this new album feels charged by a desire to move forward and explore new terrain.
“The tour’s been fun, but I’ll be glad it’s over so we can move on,” laughs Middleton, while Moffat echoes him; “The Philophobia gigs have been a way of saying goodbye to the old us,” he says. “It was a very gentle, quiet tour, so I expect this year we’ll just be playing banger after banger – I think we’ve earned the right to make some noise now.”
The band have recently announced a series of live shows following the album release. The dates are as follows:
20th May – The Brickyard, Carlisle, England
21st May – Fire Station, Sunderland, England
22nd May – Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, England
23rd May – Lantern, Bristol, England
24th May – Koko, London, England
25th May – Gorilla, Manchester, England
26th May – Brudenell, Leeds, England
30th May – Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain
31st May – Reithalle, Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
1st June – Grabenhalle, St. Gallen, Switzerland
20th June – Rocca Medievale, Castiglione del Lago, Italy
21st June – Botanique Bologna, Bologna, Italy
22nd June – Triennale Milano Teatro, Milan, Italy
27th August – Junkyard, Dortmund, Germany
29th August – Pop-Kulture Festival, Berlin, Germany
30th August – Knust, Hamburg, Germany
1st September – De Helling, Utrecht, Netherlands
11th Sept – Empire, Belfast, N. Ireland
12th Sept – Dolans, Limerick, Ireland
13th Sept – Roisin Dubh, Galway, Ireland
14th Sept – Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland
16th Sept – The Byre Theatre, St Andrews, Scotland
17th Sept – Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Scotland
18th Sept – La Belle Angèle, Edinburgh, Scotland
19th Sept – The Venue, Dumfries, Scotland
20th Sept – MAC Arts, Galashiels, Scotland
21st Sept – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
Album Tracklisting:
Allatonceness
Bliss
Sociometer Blues
Hide Your Fires
Summer Season
Molehills
Strawberry Moon
You’re Not There
Haven’t You Heard
Safe & Well
Dreg Queen
Turn Off The Light
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