Duotang return with a new album ‘New Occupation,’ which will be out on October 14th via STOMP. In honour of the announcement, they share new track Karma Needs to Come Around – take a listen via Soundcloud below.
Formed in the summer of 1995, the 2-piece band’s mix of mod-rock and post-punk garnered critical attention, and in March, 1996, signed to famed Vancouver independent record label Mint Records. Over the next 5 years, Duotang released three albums: ‘Smash the Ships and Raise the Beams’ (1996), ‘The Cons and the Pros’ (1998), and ‘The Bright Side’ in 2001. All three topped the college radio charts in Canada and allowed Duotang to tour extensively across Canada, United States, and Europe. They shared the stage across Canada with The English Beat, landed the cover of Exclaim! magazine and in 2002, won the Prairie Music Award for Best Video for 2001’s ‘The Evidence Comes From All Directions’.
The duo decided to take a hiatus in 2002 – one that wound up lasting 12 years. In December 2014, at the request of Mint Records, they reunited for a show in Vancouver, and followed it up with a sold-out Winnipeg show. With a renewed vigour, and crop of new songs, the duo went on to play the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, Calgary’s Sled Island and Edmonton’s UP&DT Festival.
And now, 15 years after their last release comes Duotang’s newest album ‘New Occupation,’ due out October 14, 2016 on Montreal’s Stomp records. Opening with a tongue in cheek ode to the reunion, Nostalgia’s a Vice, the 12 track album is the group’s best material to date. Other notable tracks include the sing-along Karma Needs to Come Around, the rocking Bastard Five and the mod-influenced A Suitable Distraction. Yes, it appears Duotang are not only back, but better than ever.
Track listing
01. Nostaligia’s a Vice
02. Karma Needs to Come Around
03. That’s What Keeps Us Alive
04. New Occupation
05. Bastard 5
06. The Mentors
07. A Suitable Distraction
08. The Happening
09. Prisoner’s Dilemma
10. Friends
11. (Can’t Help Havings My) Reservations
12. Quite Content in the Rut
Tour dates:
Oct 28 Calgary AB – The Palomino
Oct 29 Edmonton AB – 9910
Oct 30 Jasper AB – The Legion
Oct 31 Revelstoke BC – The Last Drop
Nov 01 Canmore AB – Canmore Hotel
Nov 02 Kelowna BC – Fernando’s
Nov 03 Vancouver BC – The Biltmore
Nov 04 Victoria BC – Copper Owl
Nov 05 Nanaimo BC – Cambie
Nov 12 Winnipeg MB – The Good Will
Dec 02 Regina SK – O’Hanlan’s
Dec 03 Saskatoon SK – Amigo’s
*Eastern Canada TBA later
