[Ed. Note– There is no hibernation season for true indie fans. While there may be a lull in both new releases and live shows in December, the new calendar brings both back with a vengeance.

rex is starting a series today that will contain 24 projected new releases, re-issues, live gigs or other indie happenings he knows (or desperately hopes) will occur in 2024.

Here we go with 1/24. Hold on.]

There are a number of new releases planned by many of my favourite artists in 2024.

ARAB STRAP

After a successful 10+ year run between 1996 and 2006, Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 duo ARAB STRAP willingly and amicably called it quits.

I was crushed.

Their downbeat disco rhythms and sombre, crude spoken word lyrics captured the nature of love, loss, lust, lethargy, lager and life in Caledonia in a vulgar- yet provocatively real and eloquent manner.

I loved each of their six studio LPs and got to see them (and chat with them) live twice!

Here is just one such sample of their early music…

https://open.spotify.com/track/0lvyPRyyrPwKztQZw1IKZt?si=7rtm9nsUQq6ELGm7atquAw

Following the end of the band, both MALCOLM MIDDLETON and AIDAN MOFFAT were involved in a number of different solo and group projects. I loved them all too, but…

Then, it happened.

They reformed!!!

And they recorded!!!

On fellow Scottish pals MOGWAI label Rock Action, ARAB STRAP released a new LP in 2021! It was a zinger and my #1 ranked LP of the year.

Here is opening track “The Turning Of Our Bones”. The song contains one of my all- time favourite lyrics at 1:49-

“We’re all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams…“

WARNING: VISUAL IMAGES AND LANGUAGE ALERT – THIS VIDEO IS NOT FOR CHILDREN OR THE SQUEAMISH.

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/3j9JK1ini8Z2s4SLlWZm2G?si=yfVGnSaBSjiiTUHfwjD4kA

(SONG 734)

Play Loud Or Perish

1/4/2024