The Itch – Aux Romanticiser
London duo The Itch have announced their debut album “It’s The Hope That Kills You,” dropping April 10 via Fiction Records and I OH YOU. To mark the news, they’ve shared “Aux Romanticiser”.
The song opens with a sample from viral web series Subway Takes—three people arguing about whether DJs are obsolete. Before they can settle the debate, glitchy synths kick in and vocalist Simon Tyrie offers his deadpan take: “You don’t need to know how to crossfade / Just stick it in your phone and play some Beyoncé.” It’s a sharp snapshot of modern club culture, where the aux cable has become as important as the decks.
Musically, “Aux Romanticiser” pulls from Pearson Sound’s “WAD” while building toward a euphoric climax that feels designed for basement clubs at 2am. The production is crisp but disheveled, matching the duo’s approach to everything they do—polished enough to work, rough enough to feel real.
Since their first sold-out headline show in 2024 and a packed midnight set at The Great Escape that’s already achieved cult status, The Itch have been carving out their space in London’s dance-punk scene. Simon Tyrie and Georgia Hardy aren’t interested in playing the industry game—they’ve said as much in interviews, admitting their booking agent hates their anti-traditional tour stance.
The album features previously released tracks “Space In The Cab” and their seven-minute debut “Ursula,” alongside new material that leans into their club-facing instincts. Each single will get remixes from The Twins, 1-800 GIRLS, Gabe Gurnsey, and Tom Sharkett.
Tracklist:
- Space In The Cab
- No More Sprechgesang!
- Can’t Afford This
- Pirate Studios
- Drugdealer
- Radio Frequencies
- It’s The Hope That Kills You
- Aux Romanticiser
- Ursula
- Never Change
- Switch It Off
Europe
- January 28 – St Moritz Club, Soho, London, UK
- March 10 – Les Inrocks w/ Stereolab + Elias Rønnenfelt, Paris, France
- May 13-16 – Great Escape Festival, Brighton, UK
- May 23 – Dot to Dot Festival, Bristol, UK
- May 24 – Dot to Dot Festival, Nottingham, UK
- July 3-5 – Wilde Weide Festival, Kraggenburg, Netherlands
