By Will McGuirk

Whether you like them or not, and I happen to like them a lot, one can not deny the greatness of Broken Social Scene. What they did in the 00s in Canada was the same as what Nirvana did in the 90s in the States and the Clash did in Britain; they were industry disrupters as well as music innovators. I can still recall when I first heard Cause = Time on Bookman’s night time radio show and something sparked inside me and has yet to be extinguished. They are next level, a community of equals and in the great Canadian tradition, a federation not a band. And they are back around again with a new album ‘Remember the Humans’ dropping May 8 2026 on Arts & Crafts and a tour with fellow disruptors Metric and Stars. Sign me up (actually I have already pre-ordered the vinyl and I never do that). BSS have released the first single ‘Not Around Anymore’, which starts out tentative, cautious as if the band after a ten year hiatus is feeling unsure of the purpose, growing as BSS tracks usually do, not yet propulsive or purposeful as the band can be, but into a layered and balanced croon. So great to see BSS are back and they have producer David Newfeld back in the gang too so whats not to like.