Arab Strap Essentials

Central to the Scottish indie rock explosion of the mid-‘90s—along with Belle & Sebastian and label-mates Mogwai and The Delgados—Arab Strap were very different from their peers. The duo specialised in relentlessly downbeat, confessional songs in which Aidan Moffat—mumbling in a gruff, thick Scottish accent— obsessed over drinking, drugs and sex. Initially set to Malcolm Middleton's sparse lo-fi indie folk, later records like ‘01's The Red Thread and ‘03's Monday at the Hug & Pint saw an expansion of their sound. They amassed a cult following before splitting in 2006.