Arab Strap
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 in Falkirk, Scotland |
| Founder | Aidan Moffat, Malcolm Middleton |
| Defunct | 2006 (initial breakup) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2016 |
| Headquarters | Falkirk , Scotland, United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Aidan Moffat, Malcolm Middleton |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Parent | Chemikal Underground (initial label), Rock Action Records (from 2020) |
Arab Strap is a Scottish indie rock group established by primary members Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. Initially signed to the independent label Chemikal Underground, they disbanded in 2006 but reunited in 2016, subsequently joining Rock Action Records in 2020.
Formation and early years
Originating from Falkirk, Scotland, vocalist and drummer Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Middleton connected through their appreciation of Drag City artists such as Will Oldham and Smog. Their collaboration began in 1995, leading to the release of their debut album The Week Never Starts Round Here in 1996. The addition of Gary Miller and David Gow on rhythm instruments strengthened their live shows.
Throughout their initial ten years, Arab Strap collaborated with various musicians including Jenny Reeve, Stacey Sievewright, and Adele Bethel from Sons and Daughters. Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian contributed to Philophobia, although some friction emerged due to the similarly titled Belle and Sebastian track "The Boy with the Arab Strap".
Their lyrics, recognized for their candid and gritty nature, were described by NME as "fly on the duvet vignettes," delivered in Scots dialect. Beginning as an electro-acoustic ensemble with a melancholic tone, they progressively integrated more comprehensive indie rock and dance influences.
The first two albums, The Week Never Starts Round Here (1996) and Philophobia (1998), captured the bleak decadence characterizing post-Thatcherite Britain. The song "The First Big Weekend" became a defining example of their sound. The 1999 live record Mad for Sadness illustrated how their minimalist studio work translated into energetic performances centered on themes like alcohol, drugs, and existential sexuality. Later releases refined their musical approach while preserving these core motifs.
Moffat’s solo projects under Lucky Pierre (later L Pierre) maintain the dark, instrumental aesthetic, whereas Middleton has issued several solo albums via Chemikal Underground and Full Time Hobby Records.
On 9 September 2006, Arab Strap announced their dissolution, coinciding with a decade since their debut through the compilation Ten Years of Tears. They completed a European tour before concluding with a final concert on 17 December 2006 in Tokyo.
Post-breakup and 2016 reunion
In a 2008 interview, Middleton reflected on the band's breakup, indicating that a reunion would depend on significant public interest. By December 2009, three albums—Monday at the Hug & Pint, The Red Thread, and The Last Romance—were included in The Skinny's "Scottish Albums of the Decade" list.
April 2010 saw the issuance of the Scenes of a Sexual Nature box set, which compiled early albums, live material, and an unreleased track. In 2011, Moffat and Middleton recorded a cover of Slow Club's "Two Cousins," titled "Two Cousins 1999," clarifying it was not an official Arab Strap release. That November, they reunited for a single performance celebrating Glasgow venue Nice N Sleazy's 20th anniversary.
By 2013, Middleton expressed willingness to perform future shows but doubted new Arab Strap albums would emerge due to creative limitations associated with age. In June 2016, the band hinted at a comeback by launching a new website and confirmed three reunion concerts scheduled for October in London, Manchester, and Glasgow to honor their 20th anniversary. They released a remixed version of their debut single called "The First Big Weekend of 2016" and added extra dates following strong demand, followed by festival appearances in 2017.
Return to full-time band
In August 2019, Middleton revealed that work was underway on a new album planned for release in 2020. On 1 September 2020, Arab Strap unveiled "The Turning of Our Bones," marking their first new material in fifteen years, accompanied by the B-side "The Jumper." Their seventh studio album, As Days Get Dark, was announced in November 2020 with a release set through Rock Action Records.
February 2021 featured the debut of the provocative video for "Here Comes Comus!", directed by Bryan M. Ferguson. The album was released on 5 March 2021 to widespread critical praise. Since then, Arab Strap has continued performing both as a complete band and an acoustic duo. Additionally, Middleton formed Lichen Slow with Joel Harries; their debut album arrived in March 2023.
"The Turning of Our Bones" appeared during the opening credits of the television series Karen Pirie in September 2022. In March 2023, Arab Strap announced acoustic concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary of Philophobia, touring into early 2024.
In January 2024, they revealed plans for their eighth studio album titled I'm Totally Fine with It Don't Give a Fuck Anymore, scheduled for release on Rock Action Records on 10 May 2024 alongside its lead single "Bliss".
Studio albums
| Title | Release information | SCO | EUR | FRA | UK | UK Indie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Week Never Starts Round Here | Released: 25 November 1996; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM010) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Philophobia | Released: 20 April 1998; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM21) | 34 | 92 | — | 37 | 3 |
| Elephant Shoe | Released: 13 September 1999; Label: Go! Beat (547805) | 59 | — | — | 79 | — |
| The Red Thread | Released: 26 February 2001; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM050) | 86 | — | 77 | 125 | 16 |
| Monday at the Hug & Pint | Released: 21 April 2003; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM065) | 43 | — | 150 | 120 | 12 |
| The Last Romance | Released:17 October 2005; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM082) | 68 | — | — | 199 | 22 |
| As Days Get Dark | Released:5 March 2021; Label: Rock Action | 1 | — | — | 14 | 3 |
| I'm Totally Fine with It Don't Give a Fuck Anymore | Released:10 May 2024; Label: Rock Action | 2 | — | — | 65 | — |
Live albums
| Title | Release details | SCO | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad for Sadness | Released:3 May1999; Label: Go! Beat (547387) | 96 | 138 |
| The Cunted Circus | Released:2003; Self-released (ASC001) | — | — |
| Acoustic Request Show | Released:2005; Self-released (ASC002) | — | — |
Compilation albums
| Title | Release details | SCO | UK Indie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles by Arab Strap | Released:21 February1999 (Japan exclusive); Label: Bandai Music (APCY-8473) | — | — |
| Ten Years of Tears | Released:23 October2006; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM095) | — | 29 |
Extended plays
| Title | EP release info | SCO Albums | SCO Singles | UK Albums | UK Budget Albums | UK Indie Albums | UK Indie Singles | UK Singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Girls of Summer | Released:1 September1997; Label: Chemikal Underground (CHEM017) | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | 74 |
Singles
| Title | Year | SCO | UK | UK Indie | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The First Big Weekend" | — | — | — | The Week Never Starts Round Here |