Malcolm Middleton, one of Britain’s strongest frontrunners for the dubiously honorable
(depending on who you are, I guess) title of Gloomiest Songwriter in Indie Rock, is at it again. In 2007, the former Arab Strap frontman reached a certain level of notoriety in the UK after releasing “We’re All Going to Die”--certainly the most poignant Christmas song since Wham!’s 1986 hit “Last Christmas”—in response to the glossy pop numbers cranked out by X-Factor contestants. Last year, the Scotsman released Sleight of Heart, his fourth solo album, and now Middleton’s most recent, Waxing Gibbous has an American date set. The title is a fancy term for when the moon is nearly full, and the album is scheduled to hit stores August 11. It features guest performances from Malcolm’s pals King Creosote and the Pictish Trail, Jenny Reeve, and Barry from Mogwai. AND THERE’S A RAP PROMISED.
Which perhaps leads into Middleton’s statement that this will probably be his last solo effort for awhile. He’s looking to “do an instrumental acoustic guitar album, some electronic music, some collaborations, maybe start a new band, produce someone else etc etc,” according to a press release. Of course what this means in a very veiled but still totally transparent way that he wants to set up a novelty rap crew.* Perhaps Joaquin Phoenix is available?
Tracklisting:
1. Red Travellin' Socks
2. Kiss At The Station
3. Carry Me
4. Zero
5. Stop Doing Be Good
6. Don't Want To Sleep Tonight
7. Shadow
8. Ballad Of Fuck All
9. Box and Knife
10. Made Up Your Mind
*Of course this is what this means. I did not make it up. Unless for legal reasons I need to say I made it up, seeing as it’s not strictly true and all.