Arab Strap In-depth Biography
The Scottish post-folk} duo Arab Strap} were formed in mid-1995 by vocalist Aidan Moffat} and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton}, longtime friends who after years of exchanging cassettes of their respective bands decided to finally begin collaborating together. Upon signing to the hip Chemikal Underground} label, they issued their debut single, the stark and downcast "The First Big Weekend"}; the song was a major critical hit, with Britain's Radio One} declaring it the best record of the decade. In late 1996, Arab Strap} issued their full-length debut, The Week Never Starts Round Here}, followed a year later by the EP The Girls of Summer}. In 1998, after scoring a hit with their remix of David Holmes}' "Don't Die Just Yet,"} Arab Strap} issued their second LP, Philophobia}. Elephant Shoe} (2000), The Red Thread} (2001), Monday at the Hug and Pint} (2003), and The Last Romance} (2005) followed. The band felt it had "run its course" by fall 2006, as an official announcement was made of their disbandment. They issued the farewell, quasi-greatest-hits compilation Ten Years of Tears} that November and embarked on a final U.K. tour before calling it a day. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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