Art Brut

Art Brut are a Berlin-based English and German indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007.

Named after French painter Jean Dubuffet's definition of outsider art - art by prisoners, loners, the mentally ill, and other marginalized people, and made without thought to imitation or presentation - South London's Art Brut were tagged by NME as part of the "Art Wave" scene that also included bands such as The Rakes, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party.

However, Art Brut are much more than just that. Frontman Eddie Argos is a somewhat legend in his own right, noted for his pure charisma and stage presence.

Onto 2011 and a new record

The confident and confrontational Art Brut returned in 2011 with their new studio album Brilliant Tragic!, which is out now!

Again produced by Black Francis but unlike its predecessor Art Brut vs. Satan, which was recorded in under two weeks, Brilliant Tragics writing process was a lot more intense than usual, as Eddie Argos explains with the last album we met up every couple of months and wrote three or four songs. This time we got together in the second half of the year and wrote whenever we could 2 or 3 times a week. We had more time in the studio this time too (about a week more) so Black Francis had time to teach me how to sing. and Im very proud that I sing on it. Only took four albums to start singing, not bad.

Tuneful and truculent Art Bruts albums have always gone for straight forward titles Bang Bang Rock And Roll did what it said on the tin, Its a Bit Complicated was a bit complicated, On Art Brut VS Satan we had a fight with Satan. This one follows the same pattern it is a Brilliant! Tragic! record. If it was a TV show youd define it as a Dramedy.

When asked how Brilliant Tragic differs from previous opus the eradite Eddie Argos explains Well I sing on this one, Ian has a new pedal, Fred sings backing vocals for the first time and we let Jasper play a guitar solo (only on two strings though). Also, with the writing for the last album I really enjoyed writing about mundane things trying to make them exciting. There were songs about riding buses, summer jobs and having songs trapped in your head. This time the album is more about how I think Im psychic, songs for my funeral, the principality of Sealand and Axl Rose. Weightier topics I think. Im also sexier now.. Also with the last album wed just remembered we were a punk band again so it was all four to the floor rock out. This time there are a few songs to let you catch your breath so when we do rock the fuck out again it hits home harder.

Brilliant Tragic! exceptional artwork has been created by Jamie McKelvie, a comics creator best known for his work on Phonogram: Rue Britannia.