Out Today: Reading Trio doops Release Anticipated Debut Album, ‘The Space Between’
doops
‘The Space Between’
Album – 28th November
FFO: Q.O.T.S.A, Maruja, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
“Ragged psychedelia meets post-punk hybrid” – Clash
“Sounding excellent.. soaking up some Queens of the Stone Age influence but all sorts of other stuff going on too” – John Kennedy, Radio X
“A real roller coaster with moments of tranquility matched with explosive elements. It’s in this suspense and unscripted nature that makes doops music so interesting.” – Clunk
“Blending psychedelic and post-punk sounds with personal lyrics” – Dork
Reading alternative trio doops release the anticipated debut full-length album, The Space Between, due 28th November. Blending elements of Psychedelic Rock, Punk and Indie, the album showcases the quartet’s boundless creativity and musical maturity.
Recorded with impromptu drums at Brighton’s Farm Road Studios alongside rising engineer Spencer Withey (Man / Woman, Chainsaw, Youth Sector, Alien Chicks & Ladylike), the rest of the instrumentation, mixing, and mastering across the album was completed at home by the band themselves, highlighting their self-sufficiency as collective but also their DIY approach. The band explain: “In crafting these ten tracks, the band also learned to mix and master — striving to capture the full spectrum of doops’ distinctive soundscape and, in doing so, fully embracing the DIY ethos.”
From the swirling fuzzy, psychedelic punk intensity of ‘Idle Hands’ and ‘Fever tree’ to more ethereal, dark atmospheres found on tracks such as ‘Forget-Me-Not’ and ‘Falling’ the album balances its frenetic splashes of visceral energy with tracks which more a more considered, contemplative and melodic approach, whilst always keeping the intricate instrumental tendencies which makes the band so unique and interesting.
Speaking about the album, Andy shares. “The Space Between’ is our first attempt at a full fledged album, aimed at encapsulating both sides of their sonic abilities – from heavier fast paced tracks such as ‘Idle Hands’ & ‘Witching Hour’ to the softer laid-back and introspective arrangements of the likes of ‘Milk Slug’ and ‘Falling’.
The record’s journey began in late 2022, following the addition of new drummer Roddy Bailey to the band. Prior to this, early works — a series of singles, EPs, and DIY home demo mixtapes — had been recorded in quick succession before COVID with our former drummer. With Roddy’s arrival came a new wave of creativity: his multi-instrumental abilities allowed us to expand and refine our trademark “wall of sound” approach. This was further enhanced by the inclusion of floating member Cameron Smith, who contributed additional synth and guitar textures.
The lineup is completed by Andy Bingham (guitars, vocals, synths) and Luke Connor (bass, backing vocals). Together, the band developed and road-tested a fresh collection of tracks over the following years. Songs like Idle Hands, Fever Tree, and E.Y.N.W. became live staples — blending groove-driven swamp riffs with Pixies-esque loud/quiet dynamics and a touch of satirical lyricism.
Lyrically, the new material moves beyond purely sci-fi and conspiracy-inspired themes, embracing more personal and introspective subjects — though still filtered through the occasional metaphorical or surreal lens.
Ultimately, the ten tracks can be seen as a conceptual reflection on the transition from late-twenties millennial uncertainty into the weight of early-thirties adulthood — a time steeped in unrelenting responsibility, to put it bluntly.
Recording began in late 2023 and continued through 2024, with drums and most instrumentation tracked at Farm Road Studios in Brighton alongside recording engineer Spencer Withey. The band then pieced the record together through additional layering of guitars, synths, keys, and vocals at Andy’s home studio (aka the shed), often during late nights between gigs and long working days.”
The album was predominantly recorded by Spencer Withey at Brighton’s Farm Road Studios, with additional instrumentation, synth, and vocals layered at Andy Bingham’s home studio. Mixing and mastering was carried out by the band themselves for the majority of tracks, with the exception of track 9, which received additional polish from acclaimed engineer Shuta Shinoda (Ghostpoet, Anna Meredith, Spiritualized, Hot Chip, Daughter).
doops have earned national attention with multiple plays from Radio X (John Kennedy) and consistent support from BBC Introducing. Support from the likes of DIY’s (Neu Playlist), Rough Trade’s (Counter Culture), Clash, Notion, Dork, Louder Than War, Post-Brexit Pop and New British Rock has seen the band earmarked as an exciting prospect, while live, they’ve shared bills with rising UK acts such as Opus Kink, Do Nothing, Divorce, English Teacher, Big Special and Heartworms, playing venues including Brixton Windmill as well as appearing at a number of major UK festivals.
Artwork by A. Bingham & C. Cuddy
Upcoming Live dates:
* Album Launch Show *
29.11 The Purple Turtle, Reading. w/ support from Curser & Wonderlux
doops are:
Andy Bingham (Guitars, Vocals, Synth, Bass & Production)
Luke Connor (Bass, Backing Vocals & Guitars)
Roddy Bailey (Drums, Synths & Production)
Cameron Smith tracks – 1 / 2 / 3 / 6 / 9 (Additional Guitars, Synths & Backing Vocals)