Ahead of a short reunion tour in October – timed, in their own words, to occur before age bestows embarassment upon the reformed band – now seems as good as ever to assemble a Starting XI for this seminal, Falkirk via Glasgow outfit.
The First Big Weekend – from the album The Week Never Starts Around Here (1996, Chemikal Underground)
An inevitable beginning perhaps. Typifies the juxtapostion of the prosaic with the oddly poetic. Tells the tale of a lost but vivid weekend. Also illustrates the band’s occasional lyrical viciousness – “I ended up dancing with some blonde girl. I thought she had been quite pretty until last night when Matthew informed me that she had, in fact, been a pig“.
I Would Have Liked Me A Lot Last Night – from the album Philophobia (1998, Chemikal Underground)
Piano led track of gentle beauty. A title that speaks of bleary-eyed regret, a theme throught the band’s career.
New Birds – from the album Philophobia (1998, Chemikal Underground)
Dense and musically, in parts, sounding a little like sometime labelmates Mogwai.
Cherubs – from the album Elephant Shoe (1999, Go! Beat)
Straight in with a thumping 4/4 beat speaking of a Saturday night in the city, Cherubs nonetheless has a glacial and relaxed guitar guiding things along. Could almost be early evening hedonism were it not for introverted vibe.
Pack Of Three – from the album Mad For Sadness (1999, Go!Beat)
“She was the best shag I ever had“. Quintissential Arab Strap. Either a loving observation or a grim commentary on matters observed entirely differently elsewhere. Lamenting strings carry things across the smoky late night groove.
Love Detective – from the album The Red Thread (2001, Chemikal Underground)
Actually a rather breezy effort. A heading-nodding and summery groove speaks of wind in the trees. The words may however speak of perhaps the ultimate betrayal but the whole glides along with supreme confidence.
Fucking Little Bastards – from the album The Cunted Circus (2003, Self Released)
Pounding percussion pushes things along as if a drum troop are going at it next door. The boys strap on their guitars and decide to play along.
You Shook Me All Night Long – from the album The Cunted Circus (2003, Self Released)
Surprisingly straight, if aesthetically very different to the AC/DC original. Worth inclusion for its slightly incongruous nature.
The Shy Retirer – from the album Monday At The Hug And Pint (2003, Chemikal Underground)
Not quite urbane but certainly urban, ‘The Shy Retirer’ maintains the marriage of the romantic with the grim cityscape. Beautiful strings.
There Is No Ending – from the album The Last Romance (2005, Chemikal Underground)
From the final studio album, a prescient title perhaps given recent announcements. Polished in a way that perhaps suggests bandmembers reaching a time where the eulogies to the filth and the fury of the streets no longer seem appropriate. Has the sound of new directions being taken. Directions that possibly [the boy with the] Arab Strap would not take.
The First Big Weekend Of 2016 – Single (2016, Chemikal Underground)
Full circle, and why not? This Miaoux Miaoux remix merits inclusion. Updates the sound whilst keeping true to the spirit of the original. Has the sound of a festival hit all over it, though of course nobody hearing it now will be able to head to The Arches club like the protagonists in the song. That institution for a generation including Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton having shut down in 2015.
