Much like Die Hard, mulled wine, brussel sprouts and Mariah Carey, some of the best festive things aren’t actually that Christmassy at all. Add to that list the new track from Wyvern Lingo, ‘Snow II’, which drifts into the world on Friday November 24 on Rubyworks.

Caoimhe Barry, who sings lead on the song, says: “‘Snow II’ is partly written as a response to Simon and Garfunkel's 'I Am A Rock'. It’s from the perspective of the person trying to reach an ex lover who is in that dark place, cutting themselves off from the world.” She adds, “It's about wanting to comfort them, but you can't speak to them or hold them like you might have when you were in a relationship, and how sad and confusing that is”.

Originally recorded by the band in the summer of 2014, ‘Snow II’ now pulses with an ethereal glow courtesy of James Kelly’s (WIFE, Zola Jesus) rich production and Neil Comber’s (M.I.A., Crystal Fighters) shimmering mix. “This is the version we always had in mind for this track.” - adds Caoimhe. Following the successes of ‘I Love You, Sadie’ and ‘Out Of My Hands’, ‘Snow II’ is the third tantalising glimpse of Wyvern Lingo’s highly anticipated debut album, out in early 2018.

A Certain Ratio announce details of a UK tour in 2018. A Certain Ratio (Jez Kerr, Donald Johnson, Martin Moscrop, Denise Johnson, Tony Quigley and Liam Mullan) will kick off the dates on March 16 with a show in Newcastle, the tour will include a performance in London on April 21 and at Atmosphere Festival at Seel Park in Mossley in May.

Following a series of festival dates that included Dekmantel, Amsterdam and Baleapop, France plus an incredible performance in London earlier in the year, the band will close 2017 with a special performance in their hometown, Manchester, on December 16. A Certain Ratio are supporters of Artists Against Hunger, a campaign by Action Against Hunger and will donate £1 for each ticket sold in 2018.

Friday 24 November will see the first three albums in a reissues series released: The Graveyard And The Ballroom, which originally came out on Factory Records in December 1979, To Each (1981), and Force (1986). The reissues continue into 2018 and include the long out of print albums Good Together and acr:mcr plus a rarities box set and a new compilation which will feature two newly recorded tracks later in the year.

A CERTAIN RATIO UK TOUR

16 March - Newcastle, Hoochie Choochie

17 March - Glasgow, Stereo

24 March - Bristol, Fiddlers Club

25 March - Brighton, The Haunt

21 April - London, Garage

18 May - Hebden Bridge, Trades Club

26 May - Tameside, Atmosphere Festival