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Arab Strap
last updated 2026-09-11 11:26
Arab Strap
Plays on LTZ: 8 across 7 shows (2024-02-01, 2024-03-07, 2024-03-28, 2024-05-16, 2024-08-08, 2026-05-29, 2026-09-10)
Tracks played
You You You — researched 2026-09-11
Gape — researched 2026-09-11
Fighting For You — played 2026-09-10
Research
1. Arab Strap — Gape
Artist: Arab Strap, Falkirk, Scotland. Duo of Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton, formed 1995, disbanded 2006, reunited 2016. Half-Told Tales is their ninth studio album. [formation/disband years unverified — Wikipedia only]
Track: "Gape" (4:33), track 6 on Half-Told Tales.
Album: Half-Told Tales, released 4 September 2026 on Rock Action Records.
Facts:
"Gape" was written by Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton, per the Genius track listing; it was released as track 6 of the album rather than a pre-release single — the advance tracks were "Fighting For You", "Glamour Magick" and "You You You". [sources: Genius album page; is this music? review]
The album is the duo's ninth studio album and was recorded with long-time collaborators, per Monorail Music's listing. [source: Monorail Music product page]
Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton did an in-store performance at Pie and Vinyl in Southsea to mark the album's release on 4 September 2026. [source: Pie and Vinyl Facebook post]
Moffat has described the record as blending dark themes with optimism, in an interview with is this music? published 4 September 2026. [source: is this music?]
The band's own announcement confirmed the release date and label: "our new album Half-Told Tales is out on the 4th September on Rock Action Records." [source: Arab Strap official Facebook, 28 July 2026]
Arab Strap are Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton from Falkirk, Scotland. Formed in 1995, split 2006, returned 2016. Their 2021 album As Days Get Dark was their strongest in years. "You You You" was released May 19, 2026 — the lead single from their ninth album Half-Told Tales, due September 4, 2026 via Rock Action. Moffat describes it as "a sort of disco-metal incantation" with "a message of future felicity and fellowship." 5:30 at 111 BPM.
Placement: TikTok opener for Segment 2. The gear change out of the atmospheric open — same BPM range, different weight. Five and a half minutes gives the room time to settle into the indie run. The September album is the TikTok hook: tonight's a first listen ahead of it.
Arab Strap — Fighting For You
Played: 2026-09-10 (Daily Music Report)
"Fighting For You" (3:06) is track 4 on Half-Told Tales, released as a single 17 June 2026. The band describe it as a "fierce and fiery take down of far-right grifters, hollow nationalism and spineless leaders." It was the third single from the album, following "You You You" (album launch single, May 2026) and preceding "Glamour Magick" (July 2026). Middleton's instrumentation on the album includes guitars, trumpet and cello around Moffat's lyrics. NARC. magazine's review notes the track uses "proto-metal riffage."
Sources: God Is in the TV · Pitchfork · The Line of Best Fit · Facebook (Banquet Records) · NARC. Magazine
Arab Strap
Origin: Falkirk, Scotland · formed 1995 · disbanded 2006, reunited 2016, active
Members: Aidan Moffat (vocals, lyrics) and Malcolm Middleton (guitar, instrumentation)
Genre: Indie rock, post-rock, lo-fi, spoken word
Discography:
The Week Never Starts Round Here (1996) — debut album
Philophobia (1998)
Elephant Shoe (1999)
The Red Thread (2001)
Monday at the Hug & Pint (2003)
The Last Romance (2005) — announced at the time as their final album before the 2006 split
As Days Get Dark (2021) — Rock Action Records — reunion album
I'm Totally Fine with It Don't Give a Fuck Anymore (2024) — Rock Action Records
Half-Told Tales (2026) — Rock Action Records — ninth studio album
Facts:
Known for frank, often confessional lyrics delivered in Moffat's Scottish spoken-sung baritone over Middleton's guitar work.
Split in 2006 to pursue solo careers before reforming a decade later; As Days Get Dark (2021) was widely reviewed as a career highlight.
Half-Told Tales was recorded with long-time collaborators and blends dark themes with what Moffat has described as optimism.