UK group TRAAMS have announced personal best, their third album and first in seven years, which will be out July 22 via Fat Cat. “A lot of this album is about recognising yourself. This record is about the little changes we make, and the milestones we achieve in that process,” says vocalist/guitarist Stuart Hopkins. “It’s not about big declarations of love or huge outpourings of grief. It’s about the little personal realisations and victories that people have throughout their lives. Some of them are massive, some of them can be hard, and some are small and beautiful, but they all matter.”
The album includes a number of guest features, including Liza Violet of Menace Beach, Soffie Viemose of Danish band Lowly ( on "Sleeper," released earlier this year), and Protomartyr's Joe Casey, who lends his distinctive howl to new single "The Light at Night."
“It goes without saying that we’re all massive fans of his band, we were lucky enough to tour together a few years ago and became friends," says Stuart of Joe and Protomartyr. "After trying and failing to lay down a verse I was happy with I tried my luck and messaged Joe. Like a true pro he had the takes recorded and back to us in a flash, he loves a deadline apparently.”
Adds Joe, "Last year, like many people, I was doing absolutely nothing and desperately wanted to do anything. Luckily for me, that anything arrived in the form of a TRAAMS tune. Asking Stu for a little guidance after an initial 'do whatever you want' he explicated on the songs origins and suggested I 'rant like a televangelist.' Stu must be a keen student of my output. Anyway, I trundled out to Ypsilanti to Derek Stanton’s new home studio and dutifully laid down some primo ranting and yawps. What am I going on about on this one? Beats me. And I wrote it! I’m just happy to be using my (shockingly adenoidal) voice again after such a long hiatus and being a small part of whatever TRAAMS have cooking up.”
You can watch the video for "The Light at Night," which doubles down on the evangelical elements of the song, below.
TRAAMS have UK and European dates coming up, including ones this month supporting Protomartyr. All dates are listed below.
attachment-traams - personal best
personal best: 1. Sirens 2. Dry 3. Breathe feat. Softlizard 4. The Light At Night feat. Joe Casey 5. Sleeper feat. Soffie Viemose 6. Shields 7. Hallie 8. Comedown feat. Softlizard
TRAAMS - 2022 TOUR DATES
APR 14 – Portsmouth, The Loft 15 – Prince Albert, Brighton + 16 – Islington Assembly Hall, London + 17 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds + 29 – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge + 30 – Stag & Dagger, Edinburgh
MAY 1 – Stag & Dagger, Glasgow
JUL 10 - Bruges, BE, Cactus Fesitval
OCT 12 - Brighton, Patterns* 13 - London, The Garage* 14 - Bristol, Strange Brew* 15 - Birmingham, Future Days* 27 - Groningen, NL, Vera 28 - Deventer, NL, Burgerweeshuis 29 - Amsterdam, NL, London Calling
NOV 11 - Manchester, YES (Basement)* 12 - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club*
+ supporting Protomartyr * support from Public Body
