The Spook School have ended an eight-year hiatus by announcing a new album.

The Scottish indie-pop band will release 'Like A Heartbeat' on January 29 via Alcopop! Records in the UK and Slumberland Records in the US, supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Produced and mixed by Rod Jones of Idlewild at Post Electric Studio in Leith, Edinburgh, the album was mastered at AIR Studios, North London by Grammy Award-winner John Webber, whose previous credits include Hozier and English Teacher. Commenting on their return, vocalist-guitarist Nye Todd said:

"Something particularly infuriating about the last few years is the neverending torrent of conversations and decisions about trans people's right to exist that take place without any trans people having a voice. Sometimes the level of ignorance is so extreme that it would almost be funny, if it wasn’t being used as the basis to try and kick us out of society, but when it’s judges, or politicians, or employers that are choosing to get all of their ‘facts’ from anti-trans hate groups, it’s not funny—it’s dangerous and negligent.

“Some of the songs on the album definitely come from those emotions of anger and injustice; wanting to run into those closed rooms of people ignorantly debating our existence and yell ‘we exist and you’re so wrong!’. Unfortunately our songs seem more relevant than ever. We kind of hoped our old songs would become outdated, but we still feel we have something to say, especially as things seem to be getting worse.”

Alongside the news, the four-piece have shared the album's lead single, Falling, a melodic indie-pop offering that pairs catchy guitars with an urgent energy. Todd said:

"This song is about the feeling when someone you love is going through a very bad time, and the powerlessness of being unable to help. Even in the happier moments, it’s like there’s a tidal wave you know is coming. I think it captures some of the breathless terror combined with moments of small joy that I feel as a trans person living in the world just now—not knowing what terrible future we might be hurtling towards but still somehow building a life within it that is full of family and love and friendships."

The Spook School, who released their third album, 'Could It Be Different?' in 2018, have been inactive since their farewell tour in 2019, aside from two sold-out reunion shows in 2023 celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album, 'Dress Up'.

They'll return to the stage for a comeback gig at The Old Blue Last in London on October 3, followed by an in-store performance and signing event at Glasgow's Assai Records on January 29. Tickets are on sale now.  

More new music, live dates and album details will be announced in the coming months.

'Like A Heartbeat' tracklist:

1. Margins
2. Saying It All
3. Corporate Caring
4. A Little Clearer
5. Falling
6. Same Old Song
7. Time
8. Can’t Speak Up
9. Survive
10. New Town
11. You’re Wrong