33-512: Aidan John Moffat (born 10 April 1973) is a Scottish vocalist and musician, and member of the band Arab Strap . Moffat was born and raised in Falkirk , Scotland. The first album he bought was Elvis Sings for Kids by Elvis Presley . Whilst at Falkirk High School , he listened to such groups as Pixies , Dinosaur Jr. and Slint . His first ever gig was at the age of 16, and saw David Byrne at Glasgow Barrowlands in 1989. In 1990, aged 17, he
66-466: A Scottish indie rock band whose core members are Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton . The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground , split in 2006 and reformed in 2016. The band signed to Rock Action Records in 2020. Vocalist and drummer Aidan Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton grew up in Falkirk , Scotland, and bonded over their mutual love for Drag City recording artists such as Will Oldham (who at
99-422: A brooding, spare sound, later albums and gigs saw them develop a fuller sound that drew deeply on both indie and dance music. Arab Strap's first two albums, The Week Never Starts Around Here (1996) and Philophobia (1998), depicted the desperate decadence of post- Thatcherite Britain. The former album's "The First Big Weekend", a five-minute piece of drunken mayhem that end with a joyous singalong, "Went out for
132-434: A certain age. So I don't think we'll ever record again but it might be good to do a gig". On 11 June 2016, a new website for the band was revealed with a countdown and a lone statement, "Hello Again", teasing a reformation. Arab Strap confirmed on 15 June that they had reformed for three shows at London's Electric Brixton , Manchester's O 2 Ritz and Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom , all scheduled for October 2016, marking
165-437: A new ambient album, under the name Nyx Nótt . The nom de plume is a combination of Nyx and Nótt , goddesses of the night from Greek and Norse mythology, respectively; Moffat, a lifelong sufferer of insomnia, recorded each record after his family had gone to bed. He released a second album under the name, Themes From , in 2022. Originally conceived as "twenty 90-second tracks designed as TV themes," Moffatt soon expanded
198-567: A new album for release in 2020". On 1 September 2020, the band issued their first new material in 15 years, with the release of the single "The Turning of Our Bones", which was reported to be the A-side of an upcoming 7", with the B-side of the single being "The Jumper". On 24 November 2020, the band announced their seventh album, As Days Get Dark – their first in 16 years – would be released on Rock Action . In February 2021, Arab Strap released
231-647: A weekend, lasted forever/Got high with our friends, it's officially summer," which was later also used as the chorus to "Hey!Fever," one of the tracks on the EP The Girls of Summer the following year. The 1999 live album, Mad for Sadness , demonstrated how the sometimes spare recorded sound of their early music could lift into a celebration of a sexually empty, drug- and alcohol-dependent life. After these albums, Arab Strap's music became much more musically polished, but continued to focus on drink, drugs, and existentially bereft versions of sexuality. In keeping with
264-583: Is one of the few early Mogwai songs to feature vocals. It was only performed live a few times in 1997 with Aidan Moffat as a live guest on vocals in Stoke-on-Trent and at the Duchess of York pub in Leeds (amongst other cities). The song begins with a guitar playing a quiet harmonic-laden melody, with an additional guitar playing a soft counter melody first audible at (0:13). At (0:27), the main melody of
297-531: The Body . Originally intended as a one-off, within a year they went on to release a Christmas album, Ghost Stories for Christmas , a live album, and a concluding single, "Cut to Black". In 2022 Moffat and The Twilight Sad frontman James Graham released a collaborative album under the name Gentle Sinners . The album, These Actions Cannot Be Undone , was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021 and reflects
330-511: The Decade" list at no. 7, 12 and 25 respectively. In April 2010, the Scenes of a Sexual Nature box-set was released, featuring early albums, live recordings, and a newly recorded track. The following year Moffat and Middleton released a cover version of Slow Club 's new single, "Two Cousins", under the name "Two Cousins 1999". Moffat noted, "It's not an Arab Strap performance as such, rather it's
363-711: The Postman, "Cheg" Taylor and The Stobe. They recorded "over 40 songs on dictaphones and 4-tracks", but never played live. Moffat was also the drummer in Bay, a band who released two albums: Happy Being Different (1994) and Alison Rae (1995). Aidan Moffat & the Best-Ofs are a four-piece band fronted by Moffat. They played their first gig supporting American band Slint at the Glasgow ABC in Scotland, where they debuted
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#1732787749242396-620: The album Philophobia , but the Belle & Sebastian album/song " The Boy with the Arab Strap " would later create something of a feud between Moffat and Murdoch. Arab Strap's marked characteristics include sordid, personal, yet honest, lyrics – described by the NME as "fly on the duvet vignettes". Like fellow Scottish band The Proclaimers , their lyrics are sung in their native Scots tongue . At first essentially an electro-acoustic band with
429-460: The album called Touchpool , followed by Dip in 2007. In 2013 he released first The Island Come True , then in July another full album, The Eternalist , which was made available for free online and recorded using Vine . Unlike his work with Middleton, the albums are entirely instrumental, making extensive use of field recordings and " found sound ." In 2020 Moffat released Aux pieds de la nuit ,
462-510: The anxiety of those times. It was released digitally and on CD in May and on vinyl in September 2022. Moffat used his own name for his 2007 poetry album, I Can Hear Your Heart . In 2009 He wrote an advice column for the online magazine The Quietus , returning for a one-off Valentine's special to promote his first record as Nyx Nótt. He has also irregularly contributed reviews and commentary to
495-461: The band announced on their website that they were to split up. They celebrated the ten years since their first studio album with the release of a compilation record, Ten Years of Tears . They went on tour in Europe for the last time at the end of the year, and played their final show at the end of a secret tour of Japan at Shibuya O-Nest on 17 December 2006. In a 2008 interview, Middleton stated: "It
528-629: The band's 20th anniversary. With this announcement, the band released a new version of their debut single, titled "The First Big Weekend of 2016", as remixed by Miaoux Miaoux . They later added a second date in Glasgow (after the first one sold out in under half an hour) and a warm-up date in Newcastle. A string of festival dates in 2017 followed. In August 2019, ahead of the release of his third studio album, Human Don't Be Angry , Middleton's website updated to state that they "[were] currently working on
561-411: The drums stop, and Moffat sings the final lines of the song ("Like a bird, a feather bed, my sister says, and we'll get wed/And I should tell you that I adore you, but I'm sure that I'd just bore you"). The bass continues to play the main melody, while the guitars play separate counter-melodies. At (6:00) the bass stops playing the melody, leaving the guitars to play the counter-melodies, until (6:51), when
594-470: The music video for "Here Comes Comus!". The controversial music video was directed by Bryan M. Ferguson . As Days Get Dark was released on 5 March 2021. They have continued to gig since, both as a full band and as an acoustic duo featuring Moffat and Midddleton. Middleton also started a new band with musician Joel Harries called Lichen Slow, who released their debut album in March 2023. In September 2022,
627-710: The name The Sick Anchors . In 2011 Moffat and pianist, bassist and former Arab Strap collaborator Bill Wells released Everything's Getting Older , which in June 2012 won the first Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award from the Scottish Music Industry Association. A second album, The Most Important Place in the World , followed in 2015. In May 2018 Moffat released a joint album with longtime friend and collaborator RM Hubbert titled Here Lies
660-544: The only to reply, and they were soon signed to them. They released six albums together, beginning with 1995's The Week Never Starts Round Here , before announcing their break up in 2006. Moffat and Middleton briefly reunited in November 2011 for a gig as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Glasgow venue Nice N Sleazy. They reunited again in 2016, for three shows at London's Electric Brixton, Manchester's O2 Ritz and Glasgow's Barrowlands Ballroom. A second Glasgow show
693-430: The site, including reflections on a Girls Aloud concert and his thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens . In 2016 Moffat appeared in the documentary Where You're Meant to Be , in which he toured Scotland performing his reinterpretations of traditional Scottish folk songs. The film, directed by Paul Fegan, also features the traditional singer Sheila Stewart who is critical of the project, viewing it as disrespecting
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#1732787749242726-468: The song "The Turning of Our Bones" was used over the opening credits for the TV series Karen Pirie . In March 2023, Arab Strap announced a string of acoustic gigs to mark the 25th anniversary of Philophobia , touring in late 2023 until January 2024. In January 2024, the band announced their eighth studio album, I'm Totally Fine with It Don't Give a Fuck Anymore , with the first single "Bliss". The album
759-406: The song begins, being played by guitar and bass: with a ride cymbal keeping the beat. After repeating the melody, a simple drumbeat enters at (0:51). The melody is repeated, until (2:21), when Aidan Moffat begins singing. A (2:41), (on the line "Will he be in the pub tonight?"), the drumbeat ends. At (3:34), the drums enter once again, and all the instruments repeat the main melody until (4:42), when
792-476: The songs "Big Blonde", "The Last Kiss", "Ballad of the Unsent Letter", "Living With You Now" and "Atheist's Lament". Their first album, titled How to Get to Heaven From Scotland , was released on 3 March 2009. In 2002, after being challenged by Middleton to record a solo album, Moffat released Hypnogogia under the name Lucky Pierre . In 2005, after changing his stage name to L. Pierre , Moffat released
825-434: The theme of sexual allusion , Moffat records as a solo artist under the name Lucky Pierre (later changed to L Pierre) – slang for the man in the middle of a gay threesome. This work is also characterised by a brooding, spare sound, but is instrumental in nature. Middleton also has a solo career under his own name, releasing two albums with Chemikal Underground and three more via Full Time Hobby Records. On 9 September 2006,
858-686: The theme, sourcing samples from professional TV and film music libraries. Moffat provided guest vocals on the Mogwai song " R U Still in 2 It " from Mogwai Young Team , recorded in the same studio in Hamilton ) where the Arab Strap were recording The Week Never Starts Round Here . He also contributed vocals to " Now You're Taken " from 4 Satin , and the band dedicated a song to him, "Waltz for Aidan", on their second album, Come on Die Young . In 2002, Moffat, Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai and Colin "Sheepy" McPherson released an eponymous EP under
891-609: The time recorded under the name Palace Brothers ) and Smog . They began collaborating in 1995, and their debut album, The Week Never Starts Round Here , was released the following year. At this point Gary Miller and David Gow joined the band and became the rhythm section, creating a more dynamic live experience when the band started touring. Over the course of their ten-year existence, Arab Strap worked with numerous musicians, including Jenny Reeve and Stacey Sievewright, as well as Adele Bethel, who went on to form Sons and Daughters . Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian featured on
924-649: The tradition. She ultimately performs alongside Moffat during a show at the Glasgow Barrowlands . Moffat lives in Glasgow with his partner and two children, a boy and a girl. He is known for his distinctive facial hair, which he has commented on, saying I decided as a young man I would never shave again, after a few accidents with a razor. Since then, I've always preferred a bit of hair. I don't know if I'd lose any power and I doubt that I'll ever find that out. Arab Strap (band) Arab Strap are
957-501: The two guys who used to be Arab Strap recording their own, informed pastiche". On 17 November 2011, the band reformed for a one-off show as part of Glasgow venue Nice N Sleazy's 20th birthday celebrations. In an interview in April 2013, Middleton said that he would be open to the idea of future gigs, but cast doubt on any more Arab Strap records: "I think, with Arab Strap, it was good at the time. But we could only write songs of that ilk at
990-524: Was a good time to call it a day. Unless there's a definite need and desire for us to play, I don't think we should ever get back together. We always said we would [collaborate again] when we split up, but I think maybe it's still too soon. Maybe in a few years when we've got time, we'll maybe try something for a laugh. Who knows?" In December 2009, Monday at the Hug & Pint , The Red Thread and The Last Romance entered The Skinny' s "Scottish Albums of
1023-540: Was added after the first one sold out in under half an hour, along with a warm-up show in Newcastle. On 24 November 2020 the band announced they had reunited to record a new album, As Days Get Dark . The album was released on 5 March 2021 and was followed by extensive touring in the UK, Europe and Australia. From 1991 to 1996, Moffat recorded with a band called The Angry Buddhists, which consisted of himself, Gavin Moffat, Stuart
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1056-430: Was expelled from school, with no Higher Qualifications . He then worked for four years at an independent record shop called Sleeves Records, resigning one morning in 1996, due to having a hangover and wanting to go home. In 1995, Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton began making music under the name Arab Strap . They sent in demo cassettes to record a number of record companies; Chemikal Underground were
1089-504: Was released on Rock Action on 10 May 2024. Now You%27re Taken " Now You're Taken " is a song by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai , which originally appeared on the 4 Satin EP in 1997, then later on the compilation album EP+6 in 2000. "Now You're Taken" is the first song to feature Aidan Moffat on guest vocals for Mogwai; he later wrote lyrics and sang vocals on the song " R U Still in 2 It " from Mogwai Young Team . It
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