Half-Told Tales by Arab Strap – Album Review
By David Schuster
The music industry is a fickle creature. Like the fictional Persian king who demanded his wife, Scheherazade, continually entertain him with the stories of One Thousand and One Nights, on pain of death. It’s good then that, 30 years on, Half-Told Tales proves that Arab Strap are still alive and kicking, doing the things that they love; raging against the machine, and making new music.
Above all, Half-Told Tales is a protest record and, Lord knows, we live in a world that desperately needs more protest songs. ‘I Get Noise’ rails against the tsunami of social media messages, when all you want or need is silence and time to think. The lead single, ‘Fighting For You’ is a fast-paced rock number, a diatribe against the falsehoods of a martial mentality that armies go to war to protect the likes of you and I. Likewise, the follow-up, ‘Glamour Magick’ highlights the pressure on celebrities to always remain looking youthful, through increasingly drastic means. Don’t get me wrong though, this isn’t a preachy or dour album, it’s an appealing mix of horror and angst, delivered with wit, dry humour and indefatigable optimism that things can, and will, get better.
Arab Strap, 2026
image: Luke Bovill
“Grows in intensity”
The upbeat tone of ‘You You You’ encapsulates this; the world might be going to hell, but there’s always like minded folk who make it all worthwhile. In the words of the track, “I feel undesired, dismissed, adrift. My get-up-and-go is long gone, and the days keep dragging on. But I’ve got you, you, you, you.” Equally important, for any protest song that’s going to make a difference, it’s also a great tune. It commences with a fast 80’s synthwave style arpeggio and bass beat, which contrasts sharply with lyricist Aidan Moffat’s world-weary vocals. Behind this, Malcolm Middleton’s guitar gradually grows in intensity, swelling to a fantastic crescendo with the final verse.
Oh, and you’ve got to love a band that rhymes “I’ve got watchlists that I’ll never watch”, with “And pruritus scroti in my crotch.”
Contrastingly, ‘Gape’ is far more reflective, detailing the minutiae of a life of regret. On this, Moffat’s downbeat story telling style reminds me of the KLF’s Bill Dummond, on ‘Build A Fire’, from their landmark White Room. That’s not just down to the scots accent. Honest. Elsewhere, the tracks straddle a large range of themes and emotions, from the very personal, wistful nostalgia of ‘Under Offer’, to the scientific nature of time itself, in ‘Beats Per Minute’.
“Immediacy and urgency”
This is an eclectic release, of which Middleton says, “There are things in the record that individually we might not choose but that’s why I like this album so much, because it’s not the one I wanted to make. I don’t think it’s what Aidan wanted to make either, it’s this bit in the middle. It might not be 100% what we want but it’s good for the band, and it works.” Compromise, that’s the basis for the enduring relationship of Arab Strap.
The title, Half-Told Tales, evokes a sense of mystery and wonder waiting to be discovered, like the promise held in the stories told by clever, trapped Scheherazade. But, it also conveys the sense of immediacy and urgency inherent in this album, something straight from the heart without too much rework. In the words of Moffat, “I think every single song has some element of time or some discussion of its passing and how to use it as best you can while you have it.” This is a record that deserves some of whatever valuable time you have remaining.
Seize the day!
David Schuster describes himself as an “adventurer, collector, musician and writer. Not necessarily in that order.” Growing up west of the Pennine hills of the UK and living his adult life east of them, he’s inclined to think that the Wars of the Roses were a mistake. David loves discovering new bands and musicians and is happiest listening to live music. He has travelled extensively in the UK and is fascinated by the variety, history and landscapes of the thousands of islands that comprise the British Isles. David is always reassured when online shops confirm that he’s not a robot.
