Scottish Indie-Pop Trailblazers THE SPOOK SCHOOL Reform For New Album ‘Like A Heartbeat’

Trailblazing Scottish indie-pop band THE SPOOK SCHOOL are delighted to announce they have reformed, and will be releasing their new album, Like A Heartbeat, on 29th January 2026 via Alcopop! Records (UK) and Slumberland Records (US), supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.Preorders for the Dinked Limited Edition pressing of 300 are live now, and come with ‘Heartbeat Red and Yellow’ splatter vinyl*, 8 × Spook School Top Trumps cards, and a signed 8″ x 6″ press photo.

Produced and mixed by Rod Jones of Idlewild at Post Electric Studio in Leith, Edinburgh, the album was mastered by Grammy Award winner John Webber(Hozier, English Teacher) at AIR.

The band will play a very special live return show at London’s The Social on3rd October 2026, plus an instore and signing at Glasgow’s Assai Records on 29th January 2027, with tickets on sale now.

Following their final farewell tour in August/September 2019, The Spook School have otherwise remained inactive apart from a sold out duo of December 2023 reunion shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Fortuna POP! debut album Dress Up.

Now, with the political climate growing ever more hostile and LGBTQ+ rights under threat around the world once more, one of the most important queer bands of their generation return, carrying a message of resilience, solidarity, and—vitally—hope for the future.

Commenting on why now is the right time to return, vocalist/guitarist Nye Todd says: “Something particularly infuriating about the last few years is the neverending torrent of conversations and decisions about trans people’s right to exist that take place without any trans people having a voice. Sometimes the level of ignorance is so extreme that it would almost be funny, if it wasn’t being used as the basis to try and kick us out of society, but when it’s judges, or politicians, or employers that are choosing to get all of their ‘facts’ from anti-trans hate groups, it’s not funny—it’s dangerous and negligent.”

“Some of the songs on the album definitely come from those emotions of anger and injustice; wanting to run into those closed rooms of people ignorantly debating our existence and yell ‘we exist and you’re so wrong!’. Unfortunately our songs seem more relevant than ever. We kind of hoped our old songs would become outdated, but we still feel we have something to say, especially as things seem to be getting worse.”

To celebrate their return, lead single ‘Falling’ will be released on 25th August 2026 via all good digital service providers, plus as a 100 limited edition cassette tape available for free in person only at specific Dinked shops on release day, with exclusive B side ‘It’s Okay’ (see below for participating stores).

Commenting on the track, Todd says: “This song is about the feeling when someone you love is going through a very bad time, and the powerlessness of being unable to help. Even in the happier moments, it’s like there’s a tidal wave you know is coming. I think it captures some of the breathless terror combined with moments of small joy that I feel as a trans person living in the world just now—not knowing what terrible future we might be hurtling towards but still somehow building a life within it that is full of family and love and friendships.”

Formed in 2011, The Spook School were nominated for Scottish Album of The Year in 2018 with their third and final studio album Could It Be Different? on Alcopop! Records—an internationally acclaimed release that was packed with hope and good will, passionately championing LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. A genre-defining record hailed by many as one of the most important indie records of the year, it saw the band championed as leading lights of the UK queerpop scene.

With support from major international press, radio spins from BBC R1, BBC6 Music and more, not to mention a bundle of DSP playlist additions, Could It Be Different? was a storming continuation of the band’s knack for noisy, tuneful and triumphant queer pop songs about identity, sexuality, and the self, citing influence from the likes of Buzzcocks, T-Rex and the noisier end of C86.

Their vocal support for trans rights and inclusivity were years ahead of the public discourse, and cemented their place as one of the most beloved queer acts of their time.

Further new music, live dates, and details of the album will be revealed over the coming months.

Live Dates:

03/10/26 – London – The Social – tickets
29/01/27 – Glasgow – Assai Records (instore and signing) – tickets

Dinked Stores participating in free ‘Falling’ cassette release:

Resident (Brighton)
Vinylstore Jr (Canterbury)
Assai Records (Edinburgh)
Monorail Music (Glasgow)
Just Dropped In (Coventry)
Piccadilly Records (Manchester)
Spindizzy (Dublin)
Spillers Records (Cardiff)
Truck (Oxford)
Bending Sound (Bangor)

The Spook School online:

https://thespookschool.wordpress.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thespookschool/
https://thespookschool.bandcamp.com/