bdrmm announce new album and release first single – listen

bdrmm have announced details of their second studio album, and released the first single.

The Hull shoegazers will return on June 30 with I Don’t Know. The news comes as the four-piece announce that they have signed with Rock Action, the Glasgow label operated by Mogwai. The first taste of the new album arrives in the form of the stormy single ‘It’s Just a Bit of Blood’, which comes with a striking video directed by Chris Tomsett, who has also worked with Overmono, James Holden and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats – you can see it below.

The first full-length from bdrmm, 2020’s Bedroom, met with widespread acclaim, with NME calling it “a modern-day shoegaze classic.” Now, the group team up with Stuart Braithwaite’s post-rock stalwarts in putting out the follow-up, and will support Mogwai at an intimate show in London tomorrow night (February 7), at the Garage in Islington. “We’re so excited to have signed to Rock Action,” said bdrmm in a statement.”

“After touring with Mogwai and forming such a close relationship with them, we feel blessed to have been invited to work with them and their team. To be on the same label as Arab Strap too? I mean, say no more.”

‘It’s Just a Bit of Blood’ is already an established live favourite among the bdrmm faithful, and speaking about the decision to trail I Don’t Know with its official release, frontman Ryan Smith said: “Most people who have seen us tour will recognise this track. The more we played it, the more it dawned on us it was becoming something special, and an integral part of our set. 

Smith went on to offer further details on the context of the track. “Lyrically, it stems from my recent mental health awareness. I’d become depressed and very socially anxious, I really felt like I had changed and didn’t know who I was. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by three of my brothers within this band – one literally by blood – and have always been able to be myself with them. It’s about realising what you have and remembering that when you can’t see it.”

bdrmm will tour the UK later this year, and are planning a raft of in-store events around the release of I Don’t Know. You can see their current UK schedule below.

bdrmm – I Don’t Know:

1. ‘Alps’
2. ‘Be Careful’
3. ‘It’s Just a Bit of Blood’
4. ‘We Fall Apart’
5. ‘Advertisement One’
6. ‘Hidden Cinema’
7. ‘Pulling Stitches’
8. ‘A Final Movement’

bdrmm, June 2023:

28 – Hull, Adelphi

29 – Hull, Adelphi

30 – Leeds, Jumbo Records

July 2023:

1 – London, Rough Trade East

2 – Brighton, Resident Records

3 – Bristol, Rough Trade

4 – Nottingham, Rough Trade

5 – Glasgow, Monorail

November 2023:

12 – Glasgow, Stereo

13 – Birmingham, The Hare and Hounds

14 – Salford, The White Hotel

15 – Nottingham, Bodega

16 – Leeds, Stylus

18 – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

19 – Bristol, Thekla

20 – London, Scala

22 – Cambridge, Mash

23 – Bedford, Esquires

24 – Brighton, Patterns