Manchester’s idiosyncratic art-popologists Dutch Uncles return with Big Balloon, their new studio album, on 17th February (Memphis Industries). Today, the band shares album standout ‘Oh Yeah’. The track features backing vocals from Stealing Sheep and Everything Everything.

Lead vocalist Duncan Wallis explains the positive sentiment behind ‘Oh Yeah’ - "as soon as you are back to emotional zero, BAM! Opportunity knocks. Perhaps not in the way you thought it would, but a connection all the same, and the realisation genuinely carefree times are right there in your palm.”

Taking musical inspiration from Kate Bush's The Red Shoes, Low-era David Bowie, some other slightly-less fashionable records belonging to their Dads and the Eastern European techno discovered by Richards while working in Ukraine last year, the subjects tackled on Big Balloon include austerity cuts, therapy, fried chicken, paranoia and coming to terms with loneliness. It's the fifth Dutch Uncles studio album and the follow-up to 2015's acclaimed O Shudder.

Dutch Uncles recently announced a tour for 2017, bringing their unique art-pop manoeuvres to UK venues. The run culminates in two special nights at London’s Village Underground and Manchester’s Dancehouse Theatre (on 13th and 15th March, respectively).

Dutch Uncles 2017 Tour

18 February – Manchester, Piccadilly Record (instore / outstore) @ Old Granada Studios

20 February – Nottingham, Rough Trade (instore)

21 February – London Rough Trade East (instore)

22 February - Bristol, Rise (instore)

01 March - Edinburgh, Electric Circus

02 March - Newcastle, The Cluny

03 March - Leeds, The Wardrobe

04 March - Nottingham, Bodega

06 March - Birmingham, Hare and Hounds

07 March - Sheffield, The Plug

08 March - Oxford, O2 Academy2

09 March - Bristol, Fleece

11 March - Brighton, The Haunt

12 March - Southampton, Talking Heads

13 March - London, Village Underground

15 March - Manchester, Dancehouse Theatre

All tickets now available from the band's official website.

Listen to ‘Oh Yeah’ here

Sound the Alarm is Less Than Jake's label debut with Pure Noise Records. The band will release Sound The Alarm on Friday February 3. The record was self produced by the band's own Roger Lima and Mixed and Mastered by Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room.

"These days putting out new records for LTJ has become a lesson in record collecting, but the choice of label is always about mutual respect. Watching Pure Noise work hard over the years and maneuver through the modern music industry should be a lesson for any labels that are just starting out.

Couple that with how much they understand the history of LTJ, that they have favorite songs by the band, and understand where we are right now in our career, makes Pure Noise a perfect place for LTJ and the new release.” -  Less Than Jake

The band will return to the UK in May for an appearance at Slam Dunk Festival.

27th May- Slam Dunk Leeds City Centre

28th May- Slam Dunk Birmingham NEC

29th May- Slam Dunk Hatfield