By Stan Cierlitsky
"They've got my attention, and I think I love it." Those words are from "Allatonceness", the lead track on the excellent new album from Arab Strap. The boldly-titled "I'm totally fine with it; don't give a fuck anymore" is out on Mogwai’s Rock Action label on May 10.
In a year when many of my favorite artists have dropped mildly disappointing albums (Ride, James, The Jesus and Mary Chain), Arab Strap are here with the sort of album I always wished they'd make. I have been with Arab Strap since the beginning with The Week Never Starts Around Here. And, honestly, they had always been a bit hit and miss for me. When they got it right, they got it very right. But, sadly, too many of their tracks just felt like slow filler when they didn't. I have spent a lot of my time lately with their side projects. Malcolm Middleton put out an excellent album last year as Lichen Slow, and Aidan Moffat did a couple of good albums with Bill Wells. [Kenixfan: My reviews of those two albums with Bill Wells are here and here.] I also enjoyed Arab Strap's 2021 comeback album, As Days Get Dark. The track "Here Comes Camus!" was one of my favorites that year.
But this new album delivers everything I like best about Arab Strap. Most of the songs on this album are self described "bangers". And compared to most of their catalog, I think everyone will generally agree. The first single and lead track is called "Allatonceness", and it starts with huge beats and aggressive bass. I just love the opening line: "They've got your attention, the fat and the furious, and your atrophied legs can't run."
The second track and second single is called "Bliss", and it actually is. It starts with pulsing synthesizer beats and a plucking guitar that will sound familiar to fans. As I said, there are way more "bangers" here than you would expect on an Arab Strap album. "Sociometer Blues" and "Strawberry Moon" are also really upbeat and aggressive. In fact, I'd say that "Strawberry Moon" is probably one of the most accessible songs they've ever done.
But for you longtime fans that want more sparse and slow stuff, there are tracks here for you too. "Molehills" reminded me more of their early albums like Philophobia. Though it's worth noting that the the song ends with a loud flurry of noise. "You're Not There" is a light, synth-based love song imbued with longing. It's got a clever lyric video too, one which gets at the overall vibe of "I'm totally fine with it; don't give a fuck anymore".
My favorite song on the album is "Turn Off the Light", the closer. I am a sucker for the songs that start slow and end glorious, with some thanks for that effect here and elsewhere down to work by producer Paul Savage (The Delgados). "You came and showed me the answers, you came and made sense of it all." I would love to see this epic barrage performed live, but sadly they never seem to tour over here. Maybe thanks to this great album that will change.
"I'm totally fine with it; don't give a fuck anymore" by Arab Strap is out on Rock Action this week.
[Photo: Kat Gollock]