Astrid return with a new single, ‘Through The Darkness Of Your Life’.
Taken from the ‘Storm Sessions’ EP, it’s the first new material from the band since their 2019 album ‘Fall Stand Dance‘ – itself their first release following a 14-year hiatus.
The band, who formed while in Glasgow in the mid-1990s, but are now based back in their native Isle of Lewis, previously released nine singles, three albums and three EPs before disbanding in 2004.
The founding core duo of chief songwriters Charlie Clark and Willie Campbell were also previously members of Scottish indie ‘supergroup’ The Reindeer Section, alongside members of Snow Patrol, Belle and Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, Arab Strap and Mogwai.
However, the single was written in collaboration with Paul Quinn (Teenage Fanclub/Soup Dragons) on drums and James “Cliffy” Clifford (Cosmic Rough Riders) on bass, the latter of whom is now a full time member of Astrid.
Speaking about ‘Through The Darkness’, which was recorded and produced by No Big Deal Music house producer Jason Shaw (Cambodian Space Project), and released via Clark’s No Big Deal label) the singer says: “’Through The Darkness Of Your Life” in some ways about getting older and using past experiences and knowledge gained to really start applying it to your life.
“During the pandemic I revisited a lot of Occult literature, power of positive thinking type books and lots of lectures by the likes of Alan Watts, Ram Das and Bob Proctor that I was interested in as a teenager. One book in particular, The Kybalion, which is a really small book but filled with all these amazing ideas and principles.”
‘Through The Darkness Of Your Life’ is available now as a limited run of 300 7-inch vinyl records available exclusively through mail order, or at Astrid’s upcoming UK tour dates.
The vinyl will also feature the B-side: ‘Opposites Meet’, a live favourite originally written by William Campbell in 1999 during the recording sessions for their debut album, but which remained unfinished and unreleased until now.
The band also embark on their Storm Sessions tour, though the January 27th opening night, at Celtic Connections, has been cancelled. All dates also feature former Grim Northern Social / Apollo440 man Ewan MacFarlane.
February 8th, Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp.
February 11th, Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms.
February 12th, Stirling, The Tolbooth.
February 13th, Inverness, Eden Court.
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