Arab Strap’s new album Half-Told Tales, the group’s ninth, will arrive almost three decades to the day since their first single was released. “We’re thirty years old this year,” says the duo, “So we decided to celebrate by doing what we enjoy most: by making new music.”
New single ‘Fighting For You’ was loosely inspired by the last line of Natasha Brown’s political satire, Universality, and is a fierce and fiery take down of far-right grifters, hollow nationalism and spineless leaders, with Malcolm Middleton’s potent guitar playing mirroring the tone of the subject matter. “It’s about certain political figures and very wealthy demagogues that I don’t trust to look after anyone’s interests but their own,” Aidan Moffat says of the lyrics. “I grew up in the eighties, and sometimes I feel like I’m living my youth again: the same myths of a once glorious nation prevail, and the threat of global war seems constant; economic inequality and class divisions just seem to get worse and worse, and the same old bigotries are being encouraged in very dangerous ways.” But despite tackling such weighty issues, it was important for Moffat to anchor himself to optimism. “I try to keep positive by telling myself I’ve seen this kind of thing before and it will pass,” he says. “And, of course, venting my frustrations in a big, noisy banger.”
The push-pull dynamic that exists in such songs – where grooving, fluid beats nestle up against rip-roaring guitars – is reflective of the back and forth approach the band have during the songwriting process. “The excitement comes because me and Aidan like and hate different things,” says Middleton. “There are things in the record that individually we might not choose but that’s why I like this album so much, because it’s not the one I wanted to make. I don’t think it’s what Aidan wanted to make either, it’s this bit in the middle. It might not be 100% what we want but it’s good for the band, and it works.”
Arab Strap have also announced a new tour for the Autumn including a visit to Eastern Europe. Tickets and info at arabstrap.scot
Mon 12 Oct 2026 – Whelan’s, Dublin IE
Tue 13 Oct 2026 – Band on the Wall, Manchester UK
Wed 14 Oct 2026 – Heaven, London UK
Thu 15 Oct 2026 – Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds UK
Fri 16 Oct 2026 – Georgian Theatre, Stockton UK
Sat 17 Oct 2026 – Barrowland, Glasgow UK
Sun 22 Nov 2026 – MeetFactory, Prague CZ
Mon 23 Nov 2026 – a83, Budapest HU
Tue 24 Nov 2026 – Vintage Industrial Bar, Zagreb HR
Wed 25 Nov 2026 – Zappa Bazza, Belgrade RS
Thu 26 Nov 2026 – Control Club, Bucharest RO
Fri 27 Nov 2026 – Zorlu, Istanbul TR
Sat 28 Nov 2026 – Eightball Club, Thessaloniki GR
Sun 29 Nov 2026 – Gazarta Soundstage, Athens GR
Sun 13 Dec 2026 – Parma Barezzi Festival, Parma IT
ARAB STRAP – ‘HALF-TOLD TALES’
Album Tracklisting:
I Get Noise
You You You
Be a Man
Fighting For You
Glamour Magick
Gape
Under Offer
Basic Physics
Sunsong
Dollar Park
Mr. Splitfoot
Ampersand
Fragments
Beats Per Minute