Words by: Emily Howarth
Photos by: Harrison Fishman
A band we’re keeping a close eye on, Squid are launching into the new year with Cowards, their third full-length album via Warp Records. The Brighton-formed quintet continue to push boundaries, crafting a well-rounded record that blends multiple styles and genres into a cohesive album. Released on 7th February 2025, Cowards explores themes of immorality, cult-like charisma, and human apathy, presenting nine tracks that delve into the darker corners of human nature.
The band first teased the album late last year with its lead single, “Crispy Skin”, a deceptively light track that disguises its dark themes of cannibalism and cowardice beneath jittery, off-kilter grooves. It’s the kind of track that initially feels fun and energetic, only for its sinister undertones to sink in upon deeper reflection — an approach that perfectly encapsulates Cowards as a whole.
Other standout tracks on the album include “Building 650,” a strangely chaotic yet hypnotic piece, and the closing track, “Well Met (Fingers Through the Fence)” an expansive, 8-minute journey that begins quietly, gradually adding layers of musical texture. With two vocals lightly harmonising, the song feels warm and enveloping as it builds. However, it avoids reaching a climactic peak, instead fading out with a haunting subtlety.
Expanding their sound without losing the core
Musically, Cowards is Squid’s most ambitious album yet. Guitarist Louis Borlase describes it as a return to great songwriting — a shift from the dense, complex structures of their previous album O Monolith toward more immediate and resonant ideas. Yet, while the songwriting may be more streamlined, the album remains a rich, textural experience, fusing folk, kosmische, psychedelia, jazz, and electronic influences into a sound that is uniquely Squid.
Recorded at Church Studios in Crouch End with Mercury Prize-winning producer Marta Salogni and Grace Banks, Cowards also features additional production from long-time collaborator Dan Carey, who worked on their first two albums. The album was mixed in Seattle by John McEntire, known for his work with Tortoise, before being mastered in Brooklyn by Heba Kadry. This production lineup has helped Squid refine their sound, pushing their sonic palette further than ever before.
The band also enlisted a host of collaborators to enrich the album’s textures. Danish experimental musician Clarissa Connelly, composer Tony Njoku, and members of the Ruisi Quartet (known for their work with Jonny Greenwood) bring those eerie, ethereal layers to the record. Percussionist Zands Duggan and punk violinist Rosa Brook (from Pozi) further expand Squid’s already adventurous approach to instrumentation. The result is an album that feels both expansive and deeply immersive.
If you’re as eager as we are to experience Cowards live, Squid will be embarking on a tour over the next few months, including a highly anticipated show at Bristol Beacon on 5th March. You can get your tickets here. We’ll be there to bring you full coverage, so stay tuned for our gig review 😉
17.02 – Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool, UK
18.02 – O2 Ritz Manchester, Manchester, UK
19.02 – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, UK
21.02 – NSU Domain, Newcastle, UK
22.02 – Leadmill, Sheffield, UK
24.02 – Junction 1, Cambridge, UK
25.03 – The Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich, UK
27.02 – O2 Academy Oxford, Oxford, UK
28.02 – Engine Rooms, Southampton, UK
01.03 – Lido, Margate, UK
02.03 – Chalk, Brighton, UK
04.03 – XOYO, Birmingham, UK
05.03 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol, UK
26.04 – Roundhouse, London, UK