Mush return with ‘Get On Yer Soapbox’ + announce new album ‘Down Tools’

Leeds, UK-based art-rock group, Mush have returned with the new single, Get On Yer Soapbox alongside announcing details of what will be their third album in as many years titled ‘Down Tools,’ out July 8 via Memphis Industries. The new record follows hype-building early singles Alternative Facts and Gig Economy, 2020’s debut LP ‘3D Routine’ and 2021’s acclaimed ‘Lines Redacted,’ which pushed their sound further earning support at BBC 6 Music, Pitchfork, Quietus, Sunday Times and DIY and, as Uncut wrote, saw them become “kindred spirits to Wand and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, two other bands prolifically honing their sound and approach, steadily developing their voice.” Listen to Get On Yer Soapbox via YouTube below.

‘Down Tools’ was recorded in Leeds at Greenmount Studios with long-term collaborators, Lee Smith and Jamie Lockhart (Yard Act, Easy Life, Cribs). While grief and work balance form themes on the record, Hyndman’s approach is largely made up of abstract, disconnected streams of consciousness and lines liberally taken from books, paintings, films and beyond. Hyndman says of the recording process: “going into Greenmount was like returning to a childhood home, it’s great re-connecting with Lee and Jamie. They let us do whatever we want within reason, we have fun and you kind of forget they are actually both amazing at what they do. So much of the guitar had to be improvised in the studio which was stressful but also intrinsic to creating the non-linear vibe of some of the stranger tracks”.

Along with the announcement of the new album, Mush has also shared a joyfully-unhinged new single, Get On Yer Soapbox that dials up the art-rock inflected guitar jams. Discussing the song, Hyndman says: “‘Get On Yer Soapbox’ is a righteous wig-out number, like ‘Alternative Facts’ but with more cowbell. All the solos are improvised and I very much doubt I will ever be able to recreate them live, you can hear the track going off the rails which is something I’ve found exciting on records. Lyrically again it’s a kind of re-purposing of an old idiom which I like to do. Generally being ‘on your soapbox’ is considered to be a bit of a slur but I think a bit of self-righteousness is warranted from time to time, especially with the shower of shite we’re dealing with”.

Mush formed in 2015, its first iteration being as a five-piece noise band with three guitars. Mush’s MO and sound have changed a lot since then as the band continues to grow and hone their sound. On ‘3D Routine’, the sound centered around the interweaving of dueling guitars of Steven Tyson and Hyndman. Since Tyson’s death, Hyndman has contributed all of the guitars for ‘Lines Redacted’ and ‘Down Tools’. Recent recruit, Myles Kirk is now on second guitar duties ushering another new era for the band, joining Dan plus Nick Grant (bass/vox) and Phil Porter (drums).

You can pre-order ‘Down Tools’ here

‘Down Tools’ track listing

1. Grief Thief
2. Karoshi Karaoke
3. Get On Yer Soapbox
4. Human Resources
5. Northern Safari
6. Dense Traffic
7. Inkblot and The Wedge
8. Group of Death
9. Groundswell
10. Interlude
11. Burn, Suffering!
12. Down Tools