Rock Action Vinyl & CDs

Review: 'I'm Totally Fine With It Don't Give A Fuck Anymore' reads the WhatsApp message on the front cover of the upcoming album of the same name by Scottish duo Arab Strap. Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton have been on a blazing nonstop run ever since they reunited the group in 2019. Confronting conspiracy theories, online addiction, and societal decay, the lead single 'Bliss' is a steady reminder of Arab Strap's multi-generational appeal - "It's about women being terrorized online; it's about cowardice and bigotry. It's about how we expose ourselves on social platforms while hiding alone at home. But you can dance to it too!" Moffat said on the press release. As the haunting melodies intertwine with Moffat's gritty regional vocals on the 15-track album, dimly lit dive bars and sketchy alleyways come to mind and not the cyberspace dystopia that many other musicians would go to. It's a unique take on a subject that needs unique takes, an explicit piece of sang prose in an age of censorship. Just the cover alone lets you know that Arab Strap is not going to be added to your easy-listening playlist. The icing on the cake? The cheeky decision to make the disc a bright emoji yellow.