George Ward
Freelance journalist and online editor for CLUNK. Can be found out and about in Bristol, finding cheap records or having a pint on King Street.
Squid return with surprise single ‘Fugue (Bin Song)’, taken from their ‘O Monolith’ sessions with producer Dan Carey
2023 was a huge year for post-punk band Squid. With the release of their sophomore album ‘O Monolith’ proving hugely successful with fans and critics alike as well as a massive UK tour, we ended 2023 very content with our yearly portion of Squid.
It’s a special surprise then that Squid have today shared another cut from the ‘O Monolith’ sessions, ‘Fugue (Bin Song)’. Hardcore fans might recognise this fan-favourite from the band’s live performances prior to the release of the album. While it apparently didn’t quite fit into the tracklist, it’s lovely to have a studio recording out in the world.
Fans of ‘O Monolith’ will not be disappointed by this one. It doesn’t feel like a leftover, but rather its own beast, just as winding and sonically interesting as its album siblings. The track revolves around cyclical guitar arpeggios layered upon one another, while strings, drones and basslines build gradually.
In typical Squid fashion, we are treated to a particularly gnarly breakdown midway through. Guitars growl viciously, the bass tone is menacingly sinister and Ollie Judge’s drum performance is suitably aggressive.
‘Fugue (Bin Song)’ is typically hypnotic in a way that only Squid can deliver. While it doesn’t tread much new ground from the rest of ‘O Monolith’, it’s a delight to be transported back into its strange little world once more before they move onto their next project.
Listen to ‘Fugue (Bin Song)’ here: