We’ve mentioned bits in passing over the past couple of months, but now it’s time to formally announce that the third, long-awaited Lupen Crook album – The Pros and Cons of Eating Out – will be released on Monday October 4th 2010.

The album will be released on Beast Reality Records and will be available from both mainstream and indie UK music shops (via Shellshock distribution), online (mail order & download) and of course direct from the Crooked Family at gigs.

The CD version of the album will be released in a digipack based on some characteristically uncompromising artwork.  As Mr Crook mentioned the other day, the original printers refused to handle it and we had to seek a last-minute alternative.

We won’t spoil the surprise for now.  The digipack will be enclosed in a slipcase featuring the “puzzled heart” design above.  There will also be a poster in the digipack containing artwork on one side and full lyrics for all songs on the other.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Fantasist In March
2. Will O The Wisp
3. Sleeping Lions
4. Dorothy Deserves
5. World’s End
6. Devil’s Son
7. Lest We Connect The Crooked Family
8. Scissor Kick
9. Pirate’s Wife
10. How To Murder Birds
11. Hour Glass
12. Ode To Fucking Everyone

Mr Crook has already mentioned the work he’s been doing on the limited edition box set version of the album.  There will only be twenty of these.  More to follow on this over the next week so, including fuller details of exactly what it contains.

We’ll be keeping you updated on a regular basis.  Next step is to make the album available to you on pre-order.  Keep those eyes peeled… x

Liveblogging in effect… We’re in Camden on a sunny Friday afternoon.  Bruce & I have repaired to the Lockside Lounge for sustenance and wi-fi access while Mr Crook mans the first ever attempt at hawking our Crooked wares via market stall.

Releases, t-shirts and bags are available, but the main thrust is the (relatively) new Can’t Bear merchandise (postcards and greetings cards), which some of you have already seen at gigs.  We’ll be making them available via the website very shortly.

We have video footage from our trip to Latitude that will one day be edited and will see the light of day.  At the moment, it’s all hands on deck to get the album out.

Yes, at last the album has an almost-finalised release date of 4th October.  We have until the end of the next week to turn that into a beastly reality.

In the meantime, here’s some great footage that we spotted on YouTube of Dorothy Deserves at Latitude.  Thanks to Nige for shooting and uploading it.  x

Here’s the Crooked Cart at Latitude, shortly after the crowd had descended like locusts on the merch case and all but cleaned us out.

I’m on a mission to uncover the meaning (and language) of the slogan on the side.  Presumably not “Crooked Cart”.  Can anyone help?

Thanks to Rachel Blackman for the pic.  x

The band plays this Sunday at the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch.  Nearest tube station is Old Street (10 min walk), or you can use the new-fangled Overground line to Shoreditch High Street (5 min walk).

Supports come from Medway’s Archie Wah Wahs and Dalston’s The Sans Pareil (who those of you with long memories might remember supporting the band at 93 Feet East a couple of years ago).

One of the most consistently fascinating aspects of any form of art – musical or otherwise – is its potential for limitless re-interpretation by different individuals.  Arguably, the multi-genre, multi-dimensional nature of this band’s music makes it fertile territory for this type of exploration.

Dave Wise and I filmed a video for Devil’s Son a couple of weeks ago.  From the results, I created a relatively straightforward (by our standards) “promo” type video with an overtly grunge-punk vibe, aiming to demonstrate what the band looks like in a live performance environment.

Dave has created an alternative version with a very different feel.  Responses are clearly a personal thing, but I’m viewing this in an arthouse, film noir tradition.  It’s Gothic in the original sense, reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe and Fritz Lang.  It’s maybe a little bit “music Goth” too!

You might also be interested in this Dazed & Confused interview with Crooked Family photographer Jenny Hardcore, in which she explains her recent photo shoot at an abandoned asylum outside London.  Her post-production work on these shots was inspired by The Mrs‘ artwork.

The double ‘A’ side single World’s End / Devil’s Son – or Devil’s Son / World’s End, if you prefer – is out today via Label Fandango.  Videos for both songs can be found in the website sidebar and on the front page.  You can order the single from the Shop.

The single is released via Label Fandango, but we’re still basically self-funded.  Please buy direct from us, to help us build up band funds.  You get an exclusive lyric insert too.  Also, please spread the word however you can – word of mouth, Facebook, etc.

If you’re on Facebook, using the Share button next to the two videos is a good way to let your friends and contacts see and hear what the band is all about.  You can also follow us on Twitter and re-tweet our updates to your own followers.

We know 7″ vinyl is something of a niche market these days, so we’ve got a limited number of 7″s available with a bundled copy of the CD promo.  We’re not sure how long stocks will last, so order sooner rather than later to secure your copy of the CD.

Also, don’t forget that the website shop contains numerous other treasures, including t-shirts, canvas bags and back catalogue releases.  All of this merchandise is available from us at forthcoming gigs and festivals too, if you prefer the personal touch.

We’re playing at the Scala in London on Thursday evening and we’re going to be at the Latitude festival for most of the weekend.  If you can make either of these, we look forward to seeing you.  x

We set ourselves rather an ambitious target by commencing work on the Devil’s Son video a fortnight before the release date, mainly due to availability of personnel and resources.  Having said that, deadlines are always good for sharpening the mind.

The two songs on this double A side single highlight very different aspects of the band’s output.  We therefore needed to ensure that this video worked both with and against Dave Wise’s reflective video for World’s End, which went public a few weeks ago.

We adopted an almost entirely opposing approach this time around.  Little planning.  No storyboard.  Inspiration, but no “concept”.  Spur-of-the-moment opportunities, stolen with a magpie eye and polished during the final editing phase.  Creative chaos.

For the World’s End video we chose a location, made a trip of it and shivered on the shoreline in the watery Spring sunshine.  For Devil’s Son we used the band’s rehearsal space in Chatham, sweating in the claustrophobic heat and dim lighting of the venue.

We had a great time.  Dave joined us, filming half of the footage as well as lending the benefit of his experience.  Everyone contributed ideas and I edited the footage, with Mr Crook providing guidance and feedback during the penultimate session.

Here are the results.  To watch in HD, press Play, change the video quality setting from 360p to 720p and then watch full-screen (click the four outward-pointing arrows next to “720p”).  If it “stutters”, you might need to drop back to 360p.

We hope you like it.  x

We were pleased to hear earlier this week that the BBC Trust has rejected the BBC’s plans to close its 6 Music radio station.  This follows a four-month campaign to save the station, endorsed by numerous high-profile musicians and massive public support.

We’re particularly relieved on Tom Robinson’s behalf, because apparently he’s going to be playing one of the new double A side single tracks on his show this evening between 7pm and 9pm.  Nice to know you won’t be collecting your P45 any time soon, Tom.

Last time round, Mr Robinson good-naturedly suggested that “Lupen Crook HQ” might be orchestrating the positive feedback that he was receiving.  So, for the record, any texts or e-mails that you choose to send him tonight are entirely at your discretion!  x

PS – keep your eyes peeled for another blog post later today.  We’ve got something to show you…

Thanks to everyone who came and showed their support at the Bull and Gate on Monday.  We appreciate that it was a shorter set than you might have expected.  Bob wasn’t well enough to play, so Mr Crook and Tom planned a duo set.  Last-second technical problems on stage forced it to become a solo performance, meaning that several songs had to be sacrificed.  Hopefully you enjoyed what you heard, including two brand new numbers.  Titles are still in flux, but you’ll be hearing them again.

The song in the video above is Coldalone, which has been around for a couple of years but has yet to be recorded.  Speaking of recordings, the World’s End / Devil’s Son single is out on Monday!  We’re putting the finishing touches to the Devil’s Son video right now.  We’re a little behind on getting the single available in the website shop.  News to follow imminently.  Be aware that the 7″ colour lyric insert will only be available in copies bought direct from us.  If you buy elsewhere, it’s just a black sleeve plus the vinyl.

We’re looking forward to Lounge On The Farm this weekend.  Many of Medway’s finest will be there: Slap Alice, Archie Wah Wahs, The Singing Loins, Stuart Turner and The Lovedays, to name but a few.  The band is on around 4pm on Sunday.  We’re also getting very excited about Latitude the following weekend.  Too many brilliant musicians to even begin to put together a list of recommendations; if you’re going to be there too, leave us a comment and let us know who you think we should check out.