Post-punk: Last News

Big Special have shared the politically aware new single ‘Butcher’s Bin’ – check it out below.Announced today (March 13), the new single is the latest to be taken from the duo’s upcoming debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’, which is set for release on May 10 via SO Recordings.Following on from the lead single ‘Dust Off / Start Again’, the new track sees Big Special hone in on a synth-dominated sound, and shed light on the attitudes shown towards the working classes in today’s Britain.“‘Butcher’s Bin’ is about class awareness and the realisation that the working classes are used as nothing but a commodity and set against each other at every turn, their existence trivialised and struggles denied; the off cuts tossed to feed the rabid hounds of neoliberalism,” said lead singer Joe Hicklin of the inspiration behind the track.“The song is about all of this from the perspective of declining mental health whilst trying to make a living as an artist and to break through in a time and place where a life In art is seen as a luxury granted to those of a higher social class or a fruitless pursuit for idealistic fools.”Check out the single below.The alternative duo first announced details of their debut album last month, when they revealed the details around the LP and dropped the first teaser ‘Dust Off / Start Again’.According to the band, both tracks capture the essence of the forthcoming album, and look to unite them with listeners through their “common struggles”.“‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’ is an album about depression.

Fontaines D.C. are continuing to tease new music with a Stanley Kubrick-inspired clip ahead of their new album ‘Romance’.The Irish post-punk group started to hint at new music last week with a 30-second clip in which frontman Grian Chatten is seen topless and in bright green trousers, with a black, swollen eye and heavy cuts and bruises all over.

A Certain Ratio have been announced for this year’s Kendal Calling – and will be cutting their set to a special vinyl record for fans to purchase onsite. Find all the details below.The Manchester post-punk band are scheduled to play a show in Tim Burgess‘ Tim Peaks Diner at the Lake District festival on Friday, August 2.

Bring Me The Horizon have discussed their love of Fontaines D.C., and shared an update on when fans can expect the delayed album ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’. Watch our video interview with the band above.Frontman Oli Sykes and drummer Mat Nicholls spoke to NME on the BRITs 2024 red carpet, shortly before they took home Best Alternative/Rock Act.Currently, the band are expected to drop their long-awaited album ‘POST HUMAN NeX GEn’ in the summer. The follow-up to 2020’s ‘POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR’ was scheduled to drop last September, following being announced during the band’s headline debut at Download Festival, but was later delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.When asked by NME for an update on the new project, Sykes said: “It’s nearly finished, but it’s not finished”.“Every time we think we’ve got it, we get another song,” he added.

Idles frontman Joe Talbot has become the latest musician to appear on CBeebies Bedtime Stories – check out the video below.Talbot read the rhyming picture book Under The Love Umbrella, which was written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Alison Colpoys, on yesterday’s edition (February 20) of the BBC children’s series.“Hello, I’m Joe,” the frontman said to introduce his reading. “I’m a musician and I love being a musician. I love it because I get to make music with my friends.

Idles‘ Joe Talbot is set to be the latest musical star to read for CBeebies’ Bedtime Stories.The frontman will read ‘Under the Love Umbrella’ written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Alison Colpoys, which follows four children as they navigate the world under their love umbrellas.He’s the latest star to read a bedtime story, joining musicians who have previously lent their voices including Dave Grohl, Dolly Parton, Harry Styles, Elton John and more.Talbot’s story will air today (February 20) at 6:50pm GMT on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.“It’s an honour to announce that I am reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story,” said the artist in a statement. “I can NOT express how much I love reading to my kid so this was a welcome twist in an already beautiful career.

Courting have spoken to NME about the making of second album ‘New Last Name’, which features The Cribs’ Ryan and Gary Jarman on co-production duties. Check out our interview with the band and the Jarman brothers below, where they also open up about the current era of indie and comparisons with The 1975.The “raucously fun” Courting debut ‘Guitar Music’ was released in 2022 and saw the Liverpool four-piece push back against labels of ‘post-punk’ via auto-tuned vocals and rave-inspired breakdowns.

XTC have spoken about the possibility of reuniting the band at some point in the future, with each member offering different perspectives about the prospect.The Swindon post-punk four-piece – frontman Andy Partridge, bassist Colin Moulding, drummer Terry Chambers and guitarist Dave Gregory – have reflected on their legacy and looked to the future in a rare new interview with hometown paper, the Swindon Advertiser.The band, known for songs like ‘Making Plans for Nigel’, ‘Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)’ and ‘Senses Working Overtime’, formed in 1972 and split in 2006.The four members have now shared their thoughts on whether the band would ever reunite or release new music amid their own musical pursuits.“I think we’ve all got our own things going as I do sessions at the moment and I’d want to do another EP probably next year as well of my own,” said Moulding.“As for reforming now, I can’t see it really because we’ve all got different agendas because Terry wants to tour and Andy doesn’t and nor do I so it’s hard to reconcile that really.”He added: “Never say never I suppose because with the internet you’re able to record remotely with one another and that could quite feasibly happen with the memories of XTC.Moulding continued that there could be a “possibility” they “each individually record our parts at home and then somebody could mix it”.Chambers, who still tours with his band EXTC, playing covers of the band’s original songs, shared: “It wouldn’t be a problem for me as I’m still playing live regularly but as for the others, ask them.He clarified: “My feeling is no, it will never happen.”Gregory also agreed that it would be dependant on a number of factors.

Geese have announced that guitarist Foster Hudson has left the band.The Brooklyn-based band shared the news today (December 22), confirming that their guitarist would be stepping back to focus on his education.In a statement shared to Instagram, the band wrote: “Over the past few months, we have received a number of comments regarding Foster’s whereabouts. We would like to address said comments now.“Earlier this year, Foster decided to take a leave from the band to pursue his academic endeavours.

The Murder Capital covered The Pogues‘ ‘I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day’ in tribute to Shane MacGowan during a recent live performance in Ireland.The Dublin punk group were performing as part of Other Voices Festival on Friday (December 1) at St James’ Church in Dingle when they remembered the late Pogues frontman, who died last week, aged 65.The five-piece performed an a cappella version of The Pogues’ 1985 song from album ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’, only occasionally using the sparse rattle of a tambourine for the haunting rendition.Frontman James McGovern asked the crowd to “join us if you know it”, before performing their version of the song. “Love you, Shane,” he said as they closed out the set.A post shared by The Murder Capital (@themurdercapital)The Murder Capital are the latest band to pay musical tribute to the late Irish singer-songwriter.U2 covered The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ in tribute to MacGowan during their latest show at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Gogol Bordello have joined forces with Bernard Sumner to share a cover of punk classic ‘Solidarity’. Check it out below.The new release sees the American rock band team up with the New Order member to deliver a cover of the thought-provoking ‘70s track ‘Solidarity’ – originally recorded by punk veterans Angelic Upstarts.When it was first recorded, the song was written in support of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement in 1980s Poland, and went on to be the band’s most famous hit.

Killing Joke’s Youth has spoken out about the loss of his friend and bandmate Geordie Walker, who died yesterday (November 26).The guitarist, whose full name is Kevin “Geordie” Walker, was confirmed as having passed in an update shared by former Killing Joke drummer Martin Atkins. Shared in a Facebook update, he posted a video of The Damage Manual’s ‘Laugh Track’ – a supergroup of which they were also both a part of – with the caption “gutted”. He also wrote in the comments section: “Geordie has passed.”The band then released a statement later that evening, writing that they were “devastated” by the news.

Peter Hook & The Light have announced a huge 2024 world tour that will see the band play the ‘Substance’ albums from Joy Division and New Order in full – find dates and ticket information below.The New Order and Joy Division co-founder will be touring with his band from May next year, spanning New Zealand, Australia, North America, the UK and Ireland.The tour will open at the Opera House in Wellington, New Zealand on May 16, followed by eight more dates across New Zealand and Australia. From August 31, they’ll continue with a North American run that starts at History in Toronto, Canada.

Heartworms has shared her dark new single ‘May I Comply’ – listen to it below.The new track is the first release from Heartworms since March EP ‘A Comforting Notion’, which NME said in a five-star review was “brimming with all the promise of the next great cult act”.‘May I Comply’ arrives with an accompanying monochrome music video by Gilbert Trejo, who also directed Heartworms’ previous video ‘24 Hours’.“When I wrote this track I just wanted to get over an ex and to tell my little brother he’s good enough… turned out to be a lot darker than I thought,” Heartworms, real name Jojo Orme, shared in a press statement.Check out ‘May I Comply’ below.Gilbert Trejo added: “For ‘May I Comply’ Jojo and I wanted to lean harder into the stark black and white world that Heartworms is building, washing everything but the band out in a sea of emptiness. Between shooting ‘24 Hours’ and ‘May I Comply’ I’ve had the chance to photograph Heartworms on tour and was excited about capturing a bit more of the energy of Jojo’s performance at this stage.”‘May I Comply’ is produced by Speedy Wunderground head Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Slowthai, Fontaines D.C.) who Heartworms said she “idolised” before meeting him.“And then he came into my life and he sees me the same as I see him,” she told NME last year.

U2 kicked off their Las Vegas residency at the new MSG Sphere venue last night (September 29) – see clips from the show and the full setlist below.The Irish rock band’s residency is centred on a full play-through of their seventh album, ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991) but, as confirmed by reports, the setlist will be broken up by a secret segment focusing on a different U2 album.Variety reports that singer Bono revealed to the crowd the they plan to focus on a different album (or possibly other people’s albums, he added, teasingly), however, he didn’t clarify whether that would mean a setlist switch-up on each of the residency’s 25 shows.Last night U2 played the first eight songs of ‘Achtung Baby’ before breaking into a four-song secret segment of their a hybrid live/studio album ‘Rattle And Hum’.The band’s debut residency gig, which opened on the same day that they released their first new song in two years, ‘Atomic City’, was attended by a host of famous faces including Paul McCartney and Snoop Dogg. NME writer Damian Jones also confirmed that Dr Dre and Flavor Flav were at the concert.Ahead of performing ‘Angel Of Harlem’ from ‘Rattle And Hum’, Bono said: “The macca [McCartney] is in our prescience.

U2 have spoken about drummer Larry Mullen Jr playing “up a storm” in the studio when recording their new single ‘Atomic City‘, despite being saddled with surgery recovery.The band, who dropped their first new song in two years today (September 29) hours before their residency at Las Vegas’ new MSG Sphere venue opens, said in a new interview that drummers – and Mullen Jr – are “a breed apart” when it comes to soldiering on.Mullen Jr last year cited damage to his “elbows, knees [and] necks”, which he “got a chance to have a look at” during the COVID pandemic. He said that he was unsure whether he’d be able to tour with U2 for the foreseeable.Due to these drumming-related injuries, which he described as “damage along the way”, Mullen said he’d “like to take some time… to get myself healed”.

U2 are back with their first new song in two years – listen to “Atomic City’ and watch the accompanying music video below.The Irish band have returned to the post-punk of their heyday with a stirring guitar hook reminiscent of their 1983 hit ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and a chorus that channels Blondie.Vocalist Bono sings about freedom (“I’m free/ I see what’s in front of me/ And your freedom is contagious/ What you’ve got I wanna be,”) and nods to “Atomic City” aka Las Vegas, the city in which the accompanying music video is set, as somewhere to find it.It’s not known whether the song, which is U2’s first since 2021 when they released ‘Your Song Saved My Life‘ for the Sing 2 soundtrack, will feature on an as-yet-unannounced album. The band have teased a record that prioritises a “guitar music” sound.The new single was produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Sound City in LA.

The Murder Capital have shared a new single called ‘Heart In The Hole’ – you can listen to it below.The song marks the first release from the Irish five-piece since their acclaimed second album ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, which came out back in January.Produced by Ali Chant, the track is described as “a minimalist folk vignette that unfurls into a widescreen, dynamic rock song”. It is accompanied by with a vintage-looking official video directed by Charlie Joe Doherty.“Dublin is the backdrop, we were the always-changing cast of characters, ‘Heart In The Hole’ is an injection of humanity into the void that’s created in excess,” The Murder Capital said in a statement.“Reminding ourselves to laugh at the mania, question the motives and, maybe most importantly, stick around to see what happens next.”Tune in here:‘Heart In The Hole’ arrives as the band prepare to head out on a European and UK/Ireland headline tour next week.

Sleaford Mods have announced details of ‘More UK Grim’, a new EP which was recorded at the same time as their acclaimed album from earlier this year. Check out the lead single ‘Big Pharma’ below.The new EP was written and recorded during the same time that the duo – comprised of Andrew Fearn and Jason Williamson – worked on their latest album ‘UK Grim’, which was released back in March.

Death Cult have announced a UK, US and Ireland tour in honour of the band’s 40th anniversary taking place later this year.The band, consisting of Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury, will be returning to play iconic venues they previously performed in at the start of their career. According to a press release, the shows, titled Death Cult 8323, will focus on Death Cult and their eponymous EPs, and will also “boast a setlist that spans the three phases of the band, from Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and The Cult’s first two albums: ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985).”Kicking off with a show in Los Angeles at The Theatre at The Ace Hotel on October 23, the band will then head to various cities within the UK including Belfast, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and more.

Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis is set to return to Manchester one year after it was painted over with an ad for Aitch‘s debut album.In August 2022, the landmark painting of the Manchester legend – located on the side of a house on Port Street in the city’s Northern Quarter from October 2020 – was covered to make space to advertise Aitch’s debut ‘Close To Home’.The Manchester rapper quickly promised that he and his team would make things right after learning of the situation.It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork. This is the first time I’ve heard of this, me and my team are getting this fixed pronto.