0,44

Description

Almost exactly one year after the release of their debut EP, Welsh quintet Midding return on February 6 with a new five-track EP titled .44, an indirect reference to serial killer David Berkowitz, aka Son of Sam, and his connection to the Process Church, a doomsday sect. The Process Church carries a notorious reputation (in part by association), but in its early days, its spiritual radicalism, aesthetic manipulations and commitment to a burgeoning counterculture were an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Like Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and Skinny Puppy, Midding know that their dark side fascinates as much as their bright side. Recorded between Rat Trap Studios and Fairoak, their home recording studio, these new tracks mark their first experience with live drums. The result is striking, moving from the linear rhythm of their first EP to a more dynamic and agile sound. A project born in a bedroom has become a real band. As with the previous EP, the five tracks were recorded to tape, giving .44 that intimate, claustrophobic atmosphere that perfectly matches the themes addressed: cults, serial killer fanaticism, depression and, ultimately, ecstatic liberation. Tracks like “All For You” and “Nuisance” display a melodic confidence that is both accessible and off-kilter, but the most radical transgression comes in “For A Little While,” a frenzied spacerock track over which indecipherable, automatic-writing lyrics are layered, suggesting that a Lovecraftian portal may have opened in Wales last year. And if we were to plunge into it....44 will be released on limited-edition vinyl on February 6, 2026 on Tough Love.