The Arab Strap guys have confirmed the rumours that they are splitting up, but have promised a farewell tour to coincide with the release of the previously reported assorted tracks compilation which will mark the duo's tenth anniversary next month.
In a posting on their website, Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton (you know, I think we might have called Aidan Adrian on Friday, oops) have written: "Yes, it's the end for Arab Strap. After ten years, six studio albums, three live albums and all manner of everything else, we've decided the story should come to a close. There's no animosity, no drama, we simply feel we've run our course and 'The Last Romance' seems to us the most obvious and logical final act of the Arab Strap studio adventure. Everybody likes a happy ending! We will, of course, be celebrating. Our anniversary compilation, 'Ten Years Of Tears' will be released this October/November and we are planning what will be our Farewell Tour (which sounds kind of cool) around the release in the UK and Europe. We hope you'll be able to join us, but if you can't make it then let us take this opportunity to thank you for listening."