The Band: THE CROOKES

The Release: AFTERGLOW

The Format: SEVEN INCH & DOWNLOAD SINGLE

The Release Date: APRIL 9TH 2012

The Label: fierce panda

The Truth: Sheffield-based thrillseekers THE CROOKES are back with a new single, a new tour, a new guitarist, a new vibe and plans a'plenty for their second album release. The new guitarist is a local lag called Tom Dakin, who joins the Crooked core of George Waite (vocals / bass), Daniel Hopewell (rhythm guitar) and Russell Bates (drummings). The new single is called 'Afterglow', and, as befits their vivacious new vibe, is their most hectically succint New Pop message yet.

Vivacious new vibe? Why yes - lest we forget THE CROOKES are now men of domestic mystery and international intrigue after spending the past three years growing up in an industry where three months can make you look like veterans. The callow, foppish youths who launched themselves out of the butt end of the noughties with independent singles on Heist Or Hit and Too Pure are now well versed in the art of recording hi octane tunes on below-low budgets and well travelled enough to know their Aarhus from their Bromley-by-Bow. Over the past two years barely a single European capital city has been left unruffled by their touring machine. They were recently flown to Japan to play the opening of the Burberry's flagship store in Tokyo. And, on a slightly more homespun but no less exciting way they are poised to visit Darlington and Derby as part of yet another trek around the UK in May.

Those lucky bright young things who clocked the 'Afterglow' video mere nanoseconds after it went live in early March will already know that this is a fitter, meaner Crookes: the fringes are a bit less floppy, the new songs are a touch more muscular, the attitude is a lot more...attitudinal. 'Afterglow' is one of those new songs with a great bloody shiny big chorus which goes "Oh oh oh oh" several times and does it very well because The New Crookes are all about getting to the point without losing their melodic instinct or their New Pop nous.

'Afterglow' is also the first single to be taken from their imminent sophomore album which is entitled 'Hold Fast' and will be out on fierce panda in the summer. Once again we find that The Crookes aren't wasting time: it was only a year ago that their debut album 'Chasing After Ghosts' came out, itself released hot on the heels of 2010's 'Dreams Of Another Day' EP, and already the quartet are mixing the follow-up and fighting over second single choices for the summertime. There may be more "Hey heys" in the choruses nowadays but these people are not monkeying around...

THE CROOKES 'AFTERGLOW' TOUR:
MAY 1ST SHEFFIELD Harley
MAY 11TH DARLINGTON Inside Out (free)
MAY 21ST MANCHESTER Sound Control (14+)
MAY 22ND GLASGOW King Tut's
MAY 23RD HULL Fruit (14+)
MAY 24TH DERBY Victoria Inn (16+)
MAY 25TH BANBURY Also Known As (free)
MAY 26TH SOUTHAMPTON Lennons
MAY 29TH LONDON Borderline
MAY 30TH STOKE Sugarmill (14+)

www.thecrookes.co.uk