South London duo Shelf Lives have announced their debut mini-album ‘Yes, offence’ will be released in April 2022. The announcement coincides with the release of new single Mark Twain, which arrives on the back of their uncompromising self-titled debut single Shelf Life. Both tracks will appear on ‘Yes, offence’ next year.
A two and a half minute electro-garage-rock treatise on personal authenticity and self-expression, Mark Twain emerges from the bands ongoing creative collaboration with producer Space (IDLES, Do Nothing. It follows recent live shows with fellow risers False Heads, Speedy Wunderground-signed moa moa and a full UK tour with acclaimed Copenhagen duo Palace Winter.
Employing flailing electronic breakbeats, glitched-out synths and churning distorted guitars, new single Mark Twain is a prime example of the band’s post-punk/trash-pop amalgam. The single is released alongside another video collaboration with director duo Florence Poppy Deary and Francesca Van Haverbeke (aka FLAN).
Speaking on the new single, Shelf Lives singer Sabrina said: “We’re in an age of self-expression which comes hand-in-hand with opinion. We’re being told by each other who we can and can’t be, what we can and can’t feel and how to express it. Mark Twain is a, sort of, commentary on the confusion and complexity this behaviour creates of something meant to be genuine and authentic. It becomes safer to be emotionless, or at least perceived as, but as we waste these moments of vulnerability and expression a resentment and sadness build. This inevitably leads to the disassociation with these “new norms” and potentially social isolation.” Check out the Mark Twain video clip via YouTube below or you can stream it here.
Commenting on the accompanying video, director duo FLAN said: “We wanted to explore who Shelf Lives really are…turns out, they’re dog food eating, birthday crying, spaghetti vomiting, balaclava headed, spinach teething, nose bleeding bread heads. And that they aren’t a suitable gift for under 16 years olds.”
Originating from Toronto, Canada and Northampton respectively, Shelf Lives consist of singer Sabrina and guitarist/producer Jonny – who now both reside in Streatham Hill, South London. Bringing to mind the acerbic art-rock of Le Tigre, the intensity of The Prodigy, and the gritty garage-rock inspired electro bombast of Peaches, the band’s debut mini-album is sure to enthral en masse upon its release next year.
Shelf Lives are poised to make a huge impact in the coming 12 months. With an unmissable live show and more new music to share in the coming months, Shelf Lives are bringing punk back to the house party just in time. The band’s debut mini-album ‘Yes, offence’ will be released April 2022. New single Mark Twain is out now, released 24th November.
Live dates
24 NOV Manchester, Night People (supporting Palace Winter)
26 NOV Glasgow, King Tuts (supporting Palace Winter)
27 NOW Leeds, Wardrobe (supporting Palace Winter)
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