The Punch and Judy Man / Into the Park

Following their debut in late July, Luft return quickly with a second single, The Punch and Judy Man.

The Berlin-based five-piece again work with Luke Haines, a pairing that fits neatly around their shared feel for post-new wave pop and sharply observed English suburban detail. Frontman Tom Dougall, also singer in TOY for over a decade, sounds especially focused here.

Its imagery nods to a bygone era while hinting that all is not quite right beneath the surface. “Behind your back the song’s begun, hear the trickster play the fool” plugs into a classic British line that runs from Black Box Recorder and Pulp to the films Ken Loach and Mike Leigh.

Issued in a hand stamped sleeve in an edition of 100, it is backed by vinyl-only B-side, Into the Park.