Moss returns with new album 'Strike'

Moss have a new forthcoming album ready, 'Strike'. Moss amassed a steady output of five distinct sounding albums, with 'Strike' being the latest addition to 12,5 years of self-possessed indie rock excellence. The album is slated for release 17 February.

The bulk of 'Strike' was recorded at the Vantage Point studio in Antwerp, the bastion of alt rock savants dEUS, and helmed by Arne van Petegem, who is best known for his glitchtronica-project Styrofoam. The Promise, the first single from 'Strike', is available on January 13. Moss will hit the road on March 30, followed by series of club shows across Belgium and The Netherlands with breakout dream pop singer Amber Arcades.

'Strike' finds Moss abandoning the taut motorik inflections of predecessor We Both Know The Rest Is Noise by opening the windows wide and letting the fresh air inside. The band's habit of burning bridges of the past without sacrificing their unique candor has been a career-defining trait. Moss, both as a whole and individually, have now entered the stage where levelheadedness eclipses a relentless drive to demonstrate their overall artistry.

Call it a poised resignation, call it a sly sense of fortitude, but one thing remains crystal clear: Moss is still sparked by boundless musical ambition. 'Strike' once again fulfills that promise and then some. Unswervingly and matter-of-factly, Moss coalesce the avid experimentation of previous albums to their bread and butter: an unmatched finesse for indie rock gems brimmed with exuberance and sincerity. 'Strike' hits you from all angles like a cupid's arrow, right in the feels.

Up till now, Moss always opt for a more democratic approach, writing their records collectively in their rehearsal space. This time around, frontman Marien Dorleijn demoed the songs by himself at Utrecht's Kytopia studio before pitching them to the rest of the band. A new MO was also employed for the recording process of 'Strike'. Producer Arne van Petegem – who previously worked with the likes of Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard and The Notwist under his Styrofoam-moniker – is known for his zippy way of working.

After just ten days of recording sessions with Petegem at dEUS's Vantage Point lot, Moss resurfaced with their most no-frills, concentrated effort since 2009 sophomore LP Never Be Scared / Don't Be A Hero. The difference obviously, is two albums worth of immersive sonic exploration, musical riches that now filter through the songs spontaneously. 'Strike' finds Moss erasing the canvas and bearing their essence anew, now with the expansive sonics and textures they accumulated along the way. The result sounds – in traditional Moss fashion – both familiar and fresh. Listen and decide for yourself: