Hailing from the fertile DIY scene of Groningen, Real Farmer have spent the last few years carving out a reputation for tension and grit. Their latest offering, 'Sob Story', arrived today as a haunting precursor to their forthcoming sophomore album, 'Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right'. This isn't just another retread of post-punk tropes; it’s a track that feels physically heavy, anchored by a monochromatic bassline that drags the listener through a landscape of jagged, raking guitars.
At the centre of the storm is frontman Jeroen Klootsema. On 'Sob Story', he delivers a vocal performance that feels less like a song and more like an exorcism. It is a sharp, articulate meditation on the desire for absolution. The band explains that the track explores "heartache and feeling like you're losing a part of yourself," a sentiment captured perfectly by the accompanying DIY music video—a darkly claustrophobic visual that mirrors the song's internal ache.
Due for release on 1st May via Peter Doherty’s Strap Originals label, the new album was captured at Rotterdam’s Far Out Sound Studios. To ensure the sonics remained as biting as their live show, the band enlisted engineer Niek Driesschen and mastering legend Mikey Young. While the record touches on themes of anarchism, Klootsema suggests it is a thoughtful, collective interrogation rather than a blind riot.
"I think when it comes to the bigger collective picture, it takes more than just one person kicking at things. It also requires knowing what you're doing it for," Klootsema notes. "What is anarchy to me? What is a community to me? In these songs, we’re collectively trying to re-examine all those things as a band."
'Sob Story' follows a string of diverse singles, including the thrashy 'Missing Link' and the ethereal 'Run By Animals'. With heavy rotation already coming from the likes of Steve Lamacq and Matt Wilkinson, the four-piece are preparing to take these songs on the road for an extensive UK and European tour this summer, hitting cities from Paris to Newcastle.
You can stream 'Sob Story' on all major platforms now and pre-order 'Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right' on vinyl. You can stream the new single above, alongside the video, and for more, catch up with the band today on Instagram and Facebook.
