Arab Strap unveil ‘older, wiser’ album and September tour

Arab Strap have announced their first album for 16 years and a UK tour planned for September 2021.

Reformed indie stalwarts tour the Uk in September in support of album “about hopelessness and darkness…”

As Days Get Dark will be released on March 5 through the Rock Action label, but they’re sharing the first single – ‘Compersion Pt. 1’ – albeit in censored form, from today.

 

“It’s about hopelessness and darkness,” says singer Aidan Moffat of the new album. “But in a fun way,” adding that the LP’s aim is not to recapture the 90s heyday of the group.

The deft mix of post-rock soundscapes, subtle electronics, clicking drum beats, swelling strings and Moffat’s incomparable half-sung, half-spoken vocals are all present, but so too is a variety of new additions from blasts of woozy saxophone to disco grooves and a rich immersive production that plunges you deep into the stories.

“This album feels like its own new thing to me,” he says. “It’s definitely Arab Strap, but an older and wiser one, and quite probably a better one.  We’re still doing what we always do: Malcolm gives me some guitar parts then I’ll fuck about with them and put some drum machines and words over the top”.

Moffat’s creative foil, guitarist Malcolm Middleton concludes, “There’s no point getting back together to release mediocrity.”

Arab Strap play:

4 Sep: Manchester Academy 2

5 Sep: Dublin, Vicar Street

6 Sep: Birmingham, The Mill

7 Sep: Bristol, SWX

8 Sep: London, Electric Ballroom

9 Sep: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Boiler Shop

10 Sep: Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom

Photo by Kat Gallack